Sican Tomb Complex Discovered in Peru

Archaeologists have found a complex of tombs in northern Peru believed to have been built by the pre-Inca Sican culture. The discovery has so far yielded ceremonial knives wrought in silver, copper and gold as well as ceramics, masks and breastplates. The researchers also found the remains of a woman and the remains of another individual accompanied by a metallic crown of some sort. The Sicans (800-1300 AD) were a metalworking people that were evidently in significant decline by the time that the Inca civilization gained ascendancy, around 1200 AD. Researchers hope that this discovery of Sican goods in their original location will allow for a greater understanding of the civilization. Many previous Sican artifacts only came to researchers by way of grave robbers.