Laguna de las Momias

Laguna de las Momias, or the Lagoon of the Mummies, is a significant archaeological site in the Amazonas Region of Peru. It features a series of mausoleums nestled within rock shelters, containing mummies in seated positions, wrapped in textiles. The site's burial structures are characterized by cube-shaped enclosures that integrate natural rock formations. The Chachapoya civilization, which occupied the area during the Late Post-Classical Period, utilized sophisticated mummification techniques to preserve bodies in the humid Amazon climate. Inca artifacts found at the site indicate the region's later domination by the Inca civilization. Looting in the 1990s damaged many of the mummies and artifacts, prompting preservation efforts. This site provides valuable insights into the funerary practices and cultural exchanges of pre-Columbian civilizations in the Amazon Andes.