Laguna de las Momias facts for kids

Laguna de las Momias (Lagoon of the Mummies), also known as Laguna de los Cóndores (Lagoon of the Condors), is an amazing archaeological site. It is found in Leimebamba, in the Amazonas Region of Peru. Archaeologist Federico Kauffmann Doig helped explore this site. It got its name "Lagoon of the Condors" because these large birds often flew near the lagoon. It's also called "Lagoon of the Mummies" because of the many ancient mummies found there.

The Chachapoyas were an old civilization that lived in the northern forests of Peru around 900 AD. For hundreds of years, archaeologists didn't know much about this culture. That changed when the mummies at this lagoon were discovered.

What is Laguna de las Momias?

This site holds many ancient burial places called mausoleums. These mausoleums are hidden inside a natural cave. The cave is carved into a rocky cliff that rises out of a lagoon. It's a very difficult place to reach, which helped keep it secret for a long time.

The Chachapoyas Mummies

Each burial place contains a mummy. The mummies are in a seated position. They are wrapped in special textiles, some plain and some decorated. When the site was explored, many items were found. These included pottery and other objects. Some of these items were from the Inca Empire.

In one part of the lagoon, six mausoleums were found. They were cube-shaped rooms placed side-by-side. These tombs were inside caves. The cave walls had paintings. These paintings were connected to the mausoleums. They contained symbols that are still a mystery.

Inside the Tombs

The burial rooms were built with three walls. The fourth wall was the natural rock of the cliff. Each room had two levels. On the top level, there was a small opening. This opening helped fresh air get in. It kept the mummies from getting damaged by moisture.

The mummies were placed in a seated position. They had unique coverings. These coverings looked like human faces stitched onto them. The mummies seemed to be of smaller people. The Chachapoyas used advanced methods to preserve the bodies. This was important because the Amazon Andes region is very humid.

Many cultural objects were found inside the tombs. These included pottery, woven textiles, and wooden carvings. There were also clothes, silver items, and personal decorations. Even ceremonial objects used in their rituals were discovered.

Protecting the Past

The mausoleums at the Lagoon of the Mummies held about 200 burial bundles. Important people were buried in these mausoleums. During the time the Incas ruled the region, some Inca officials lived nearby.

Sadly, some people damaged the site. They took many mummies and artifacts. Although some of these people were later stopped, many mummies were destroyed or harmed.

In 1997, archaeologist Peter Lerche checked the damage. He worked for Peru's National Institute of Culture. At first, they thought there were about 70 mummies on the cliff. Later, they found over 200 mummy bundles!

Other people also caused damage over time. Visitors and treasure hunters moved mummies to take pictures. They also took artifacts as souvenirs. Moving the mummies caused a lot of harm. Some mummies were even left out in the rain and completely decayed. Today, efforts are made to protect this important historical site.

See also

In Spanish: Laguna de los Cóndores para niños