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Lambayeque
Bruning Museum Lambayeque Peru
Lambayeque
General Data:
Location: North of the Country.
Area: 14 213 km2
Capital: Chiclayo (29 masl)
Altitude: Minimum: 4 masl (Pimentel)
Maximum: 3078 masl (Incahuasi)
Chiclayo
Chiclayo is a part of Peru where the tropical sun, desert oases and the fresh sea breeze come together. Legend has it that the god Naylamp sailed here together with a vast retinue thousands of years ago to found his empire. In fact, many ancient civilizations saw the strategic advantage of controlling this region, which today is a major business hub in northern Peru, where routes come together from the coast, highlands and jungle. Chiclayo is the capital of the department of Lambayeque, which gave rise to the Mochica culture from 0-600 AD.
Near the town of Sipán, 35 km from Chiclayo, lies Huaca Rajada, a complex where archaeologists discovered the tomb of the Lord of Sipán, a high-ranking leader whose body was accompanied by gold relics and jewelry. The treasure trove is on exhibition at the Brüning National Archaeological Museum, where the Gold Room houses one of the finest collections of gold relics in the Americas.
Another major complex is that of Túcume, also known as the Valley of the Pyramids, as there are 26 of them. Visitors can take in archaeological sites and the natural landscape, as well as experiencing folk healing and a culture interchange in general, thanks to the active participation of the community in the preservation of their natural and cultural heritage.
Chiclayo also boasts some of the finest cooking to be had in northern Peru, serving up dishes such as arroz con pato (duck served with rice) and the local variation of cebiche (raw fish marinated in lemon juice). The city celebrates the festival of Santísima Cruz de Chalpón in February, which falls in summer in the Southern Hemisphere. This is a good time to visit nearby Pimentel, a modern beach resort which provides opportunities for water sports such as surfing. One can also watch how the local fishermen still breast the waves with the caballitos de totora, the reed rafts that have been used along the north coast for thousands of years.
The Lord of Sipan
In 1987, Peru unearthed one of the world’s most important archaeological discoveries of our times. After centuries of lying underground in Sipan, the tomb of a grand lord of the Moche civilization was brought to light by Peruvian archaeologists who, for the first time, were looking at a tomb that was intact, untouched by grave robbers, and which showed all the burial rights of one of Peru’s most important prehispanic civilizations.
The Lord of Sipan, so-called in honour of the place the personage was found, was buried in the second century A.D. He was placed with great care, his head facing south, his eyes, nose and mouth covered with gold ornaments and his feet with silver shoes. Women, children, llamas and the best warriors were sacrificed to be buried with him to accompany and protect him on his last journey to another life.
Sipan is a word in the extinct language of the Moches and its closest translation would be House or Temple of the Moon, or House of the Lords. The structure found at Sipan is made up of three pyramid-shaped rooms in which the governor is accompanied by a royal entourage. Later excavations revealed the tombs of the Old Lord of Sipan and The Priest, and they were also buried with numerous companions and guards.
Beyond the spectacular sight of the discovery and the beauty of their rich adornments, the Royal Tombs of the Lord of Sipan have allowed archaeologists and historians to reconstruct an unknown facet of the impressive Moche civilization, which for centuries governed a large part of the north in ancient Peru.
Today, and after being exhibited in different countries in the Americas, Europe and Asia, the remains of the Lord of Sipan rest in a museum especially built for him, the Royal Tombs of Sipan Museum.
About the Museum
The Royal Tombs of Sipan Museum covers an area of 22 acres in the town of Lambayeque, 10 minutes north of the city of Chiclayo in the department and province of Lambayeque. It looks like a flattened pyramid formed by five prisms that are held together by leaning planes. Each prism bears a replica of the banners found in the Tomb of the Lord of Sipan. Their colours, red and yellow, are similar to those used by the Moches throughout their decorations.
The aim of the museum is to recreate the atmosphere of the temples of that civilization, serving as a museum as well as a mausoleum and resting place for the Lord of Sipan and his companions. It was opened on November 8, 2002 and is one of the most sophisticated museums in the region.
Address: Juan Pablo Vizcardo y Guzmán Av. - Lambayeque
Open: Tuesday to Sunday 9:00 -17:00 h
The Royal Tombs of Sipán
In the fourth century AD, the Moche people buried one of their greatest warlords. He was buried with his head pointing south, his nose and ears covered with gold relics and his feet clad in silver. To accompany him, his subjects sacrificed women, children and llamas, while the finest warriors of the era accompanied their overlord on his voyage to the Afterlife.
More than 1,700 years later, the warlord made his triumphant reappearance. Not that he did it by himself: in 1987, a team of archaeologists led by Walter Alva found the skeleton of the Lord of Sipán 29 km from the city of Chiclayo in the department of Lambayeque, on Peru's north coast. It was hailed as one of the most important archaeological finds of the century. The structure found in Sipán is made up of three pyramids, one of which contained the warrior-priest accompanied by the bodies of his followers.
But more than just the spectacular nature of the discovery and the sterling quality of the relics, the Royal Tombs of the Lord of Sipán have enabled historians and archaeologists to piece together much of the lost history of an impressive civilization which dominated most of northern Peru for centuries: the Moche.
After spending years on exhibit in the Americas, Europe and Asia, the treasures of the Lord of Sipán are now on display at the Museum "Tumbas Reales de Sipán" in the town of Lambayeque. This will ensure the ancient noble will continue to unravel his mysteries for future generations.
Túcume
Tourism, research and preservation in the Valley of the Pyramids
Program featuring archaeological tourism with the Tucume pyramids complex, one of the country´s most important pre-inca centers because of the dimensions and quality of its structures, as the main attraction.
Comprised of dozens of mud-brick pyramids formed around the sacred mountain of La Raya, the valley offers observation expeditions to museums and archaeological sites, participation in archaeological research, healing rituals and ora traditions.
Throughout the trip, there is an intensive cultural exchange with local residents through visits to workshops where textiles and pottery are handmade, participation in religious festivities and sampling of exquisite and varied cooking.
Innovative elements: A unique experience, which combines archaeological tourism and intensive interaction with local residents. Also worth highlighting is the active participation of the community in the development of tourism and in the preservation of its natural and cultural heritage.
Source: Prom Peru
Tours in Lambayeque
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