Skull, hair and assorted bones of a young Chachapoya man tied with vegetal rope

Map of Peru and it's climatic/vegetation regions, showing where Chachapoyas were established

Guinea pigs? What are they doing in the kitchen?

Precolumbian music was very elaborate, with flutes and tuned percussions

Caramba! This one does not have a broken ear! (for Tintin experts)

This high class man wears a furry hat decorated by the skull of the fur owner

Leimebamba museum

August 30, 2025 in Peru ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C

In 1996, six farmers discovered a new Chachapoyas burial site on a high ledge with six chullpas (figures) and 219 mummies. The mummies are now stored in a small community museum near Leimebamba.

Most of the Chachapoyas monuments are remote, very high, and typically on an inaccessible cliff. For several, the only access is to abseil down the cliff- which begs the question of whether the Chachapoyas also knew how to abseil. Given the difficulty of access and the long distance views for normal visitors, we have not had time (or legs) to see the sarcophagi (bring binoculars) or other cliff burial sites. However the museum lies on our route.

The mummies are quite different to the Egyptian mummies we are accustomed to. They are bundled with knees folded and arm’s crossed.

A number of other delightful artefacts and explanations are on display.Read more