Archaeologists have discovered a double-sided polychrome mural carved in high and low relief at the ancient site of Huaca Yolanda in the La Libertad region of Peru. It is between 3,000 and 4,000 years old, dating to before the production of ceramics in the region. It is unique on the Peruvian archaeological record for its 3D design and iconography, including a depiction of a fish caught in a net, stars and plants visible from both sides of the mural. The figures are painted in blue, yellow and black.
The mural is more than 16 feet wide and 6.5 feet high. It was found on the side of a hill in the village of Tanguche. It is in an excellent state of preservation because it was buried in antiquity in order to build another structure on top of it, a common practice at the site.
The figures not only depict marine fauna , but also suggest scenes with a deep spiritual connection to the surrounding resources. The piece, being double-sided, would have been part of a sacred space, probably dedicated to rituals linked to water and fertility.
Archaeologist Ana Cecilia Mauricio Llonto has clarified that the mural is part of a complex architectural concept that demonstrates remarkable planning and a deliberate use of color. Given its characteristics, this discovery is unprecedented in the region and could be among the oldest on the entire continent. “The use of cool colors like blue, in addition to three-dimensional forms, suggests a ritual relationship with the sea and natural cycles ,” Mauricio explained to local media, highlighting the cultural and scientific significance of the discovery.
Huaca Yolanda, known for its adobe buildings, is one of the oldest in the Americas and opens a unique window into the earliest architecture of the Chao Valley. The heritage site is at risk from agricultural expansion, threatened by heavy machinery illegally advancing into the protected archaeological zone. Drones surveying the site have captured images of cultivating machines perilously close to the fragile mural and other adobe structures. This is not the work of small local farmers, but of well-resourced, big money operations who are plotting to cultivate vast tracts of the site, create cisterns to store water for irrigation and/or mine through and under the precious archaeological remains.
They act with impunity, despite residents of the area having filed numerous complaints to the authorities. Ana Cecilia Mauricio Llonto is appealing to officials to take definitive action to protect the endangered site by building strong perimeter fencing and adding specialized security staff to guard it 24-7. The archaeologists are also reaching out to the local population to increase engagement. The whole Tanguche community has rallied around the newly-discovered mural. They want to paint a mural of the mural to welcome visitors to the hamlet and the archaeological team have invited students from the local high school and the entire village to see the mural in situ.
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