Peru's ancient civilisation uncovered: 27-09-2007
Some 80 skeletons have been discovered at a Peruvian fortress high in the Andes, according to the National Geographic.
The skeletons are thought to be indicators of an ancient Peruvian civilisation of people known as the Chachapoya, "the cloud warriors", who lived during the ninth to 15th century AD.
Found at the Kuelap fortress, very little appears to be known about the skeletons, although Alfredo Narvaez, director of Peru's Kuelap Archaeological Complex Restoration and Conservation project, stated that it appeared that the skeletons had all had very quick deaths.
Speaking with the National Geographic, two anthropologists lauded the discovery, claiming it would reveal more information about the Chachapoya people.
"This is a truly important new find," said Daniel H Sandweiss, from the University of Maine.
Warren B Church from Columbus State University added: "The ultimate fate of Kuelap's residents remains poorly known.
"This find is really as important as any similar discovery might be at Machu Picchu. However, where the two mountaintop sites rival one another in scale and majesty, we probably know considerably less about Kuelap," he said.
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