Perfectly preserved ancient wooden sculpture discovered in Peru

The Peruvian Ministry of Culture announced the discovery of a perfectly preserved ancient wooden sculpture in the country. It was uncovered at Chan Chan, the capital of the Chimú Kingdom, in late June 2022.

'In a perfect state of preservation'

Chan Chan, meaning Sun Sun, was a large adobe city (entirely built out of mud bricks) covering approximately 20 square kilometres, making it one of the largest pre-Columbian sites in South America. The Chimú civilisation flourished in the area around 850–900 CE and controlled a stretch of 1300km along the coast of northern Peru during their reign.

Archaeologists have recently been excavating an area north of the city’s main complex. That’s where they unearthed the wooden sculpture portraying a ruler’s litter bearer (one who helps carry a stretcher), as reported by ARTnews. The sculpture seems to be ‘in a perfect state of preservation.’

One of the oldest objects discovered at the site

The sculpture measures 47cm long x 16cm wide, with a flat face, that was painted red, and a protruding nose. The almond-shaped eyes and circular ears are actually mother of pearl stones but are black due to the preserved resin used to stick them on.

The figure is wearing a trapezoid-shaped cap decorated with seven vertical bands of alternating light and dark colours, and a triangle-shaped skirt also decorated with small bands along the edge and a dark colour at the centre. Parts of its body would have once been painted red.

Archaeologist Arturo Paredes Núñez, head of the Pecach Research, Conservation and Enhancement Unit, said in a statement:

Chimú wood carvings or sculptures are fixed or mobile. The former are documented at the entrance to some walled complexes of Chan Chan, from an uncarved segment that, when buried, fixes the carved portion of the element to the ground. The mobile sculpture lacks such an element and has frequently been documented in some huacas.

While researchers have been unable to date the sculpture, the form and style suggest that it is an early Chimú artefact that was likely created between 850–1470 years ago, making it one of the oldest objects discovered at the site to date.

The director of the Chan Chan Archaeological Complex Special Project, César Gálvez Mora, highlighted that 'the finding adds to significant evidence that ratifies the ceremonial function of a building peripheral to Chan Chan.'

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