Second Tomb.-
A second tomb was found on the same
platform, containing the remains of another
person from the next lower level in the
hierarchy. he was a priest, and to judge from
his belongings, carried out religious functions
only, also represented at the most important
rituals of the Mochica culture as half bird half
man.
Third Tomb.-
Some time later, archaeologists found
a third tomb in an earlier construction than the
funerary platform. Despite its modest
appearance, it was found to belong to another
lord, clearly an ancestor in the dynastic line of
the first ruler. The quantity, quality and
appearance of some of the ornaments, emblems
and garments discovered were very similar..
On the surface of the funeral wrapping
was a surprising set of 10 superb gold spiders
made into a necklace and with the face of a
dignitary on the abdomen.
The most impressive emblems were
religious representations in gold plated copper
of a feline deity crowned by a two-headed
serpent, a crab deity, a god of the sea and a
pectoral ornament in the form of an octopus,
which may have been worn during some special
religious ceremony.
His regalia included three gold
necklaces and three silver ones representing the
heads of old men, a cat’s face the faces of men
and boys and mythological beings, part man part
cat.
Ten gold rattles and a back plate of the
same metal, as well as others made of silver were
found together with the most representative and
exquisite of the ornaments interred: a superb
gold and silver nose ornament bearing what was
probably a miniature representative of the lord
himself.
This person, given the name the ”Old
Lord of Sipan”, was buried only with a young
woman and a llama. While alive he must have
represented political and religious functions which
in time became separated..
Other Tombs.-
The archaeological work continued for
more than a decade and 10 further tombs dating
from different times were found, containing lesser
authorities such as military chiefs, important
warriors or religious aids, which explained the
complex structure and evolution of Mochica
society into a highly organised and hierarchical
society..
Conservation and Restoration.-
Parallel to the field work, the project
was responsible for the conservation and
restoration of the copper, gold plated and solver
ornaments, which required immediate
treatment to prevent them being lost forever.
The objects from the tomb of the «Lord of
Sipan» were restored in the Mainz Museum in
Germany, then shortly afterwards a laboratory
was installed in Lambayeque Regional Museum
(with assistance from Germany and Spain)
which has since saved from destruction the
contents of the tomb of the «Old Lord of Sipan»
and other burial sites.
