Museum of the Royal Tombs of Sipan in Peru

Located in the town of Lambayeque, a quiet community northwest of Chiclayo, the Museo de las Tumbas Reales de Sipan – Museum of the Royal Tombs of Sipan – is a pyramid-shaped structure that features wonderful archaeological artifacts that are certainly worth a look.

Easily reached from Chiclayo, this museum is home to the treasure that was removed from the tomb of the Old Lord of Sipan, discovered in the town of Sipan in 1987. A replica of the tomb is also displayed here. The excavation of the tomb was accomplished by archaeologist Walter Alva and experts note that what was found in the tomb of this Old Lord is considered some of the finest examples of Moche craftsmanship ever found. Of particular note are references to the ulluchu fruit, an ancient fruit that is thought to have been a member of the papaya family. In the Mochican civilization, a ritual offered prisoners’ blood to the gods and the prisoner was given this fruit before being bled because of its impressive anti-coagulant properties.

When the discovery of the tomb was made, Germany and Spain joined Peru in the attempt to restore many of the objects found there. Once restored, the objects were to be displayed at the nearby Brüning Museum in Lambayeque, but those involved with the excavation recognized that these treasures were such that they needed their own museum. Hence, the Museo de las Tumbas Reales de Sipan finally opened on August 9, 2003 and has been a favorite tourist attraction ever since.

Visitors enter through the main doors where they are taken via a large ramp to the top floor of the pyramid. From here, they slowly descend, following the footsteps of the archaeologists and viewing the discoveries in the same order the experts found them.

In the first hall is a large number of ceramics that represent gods, plants, people, and animals. On the 2^nd floor, guests will descend to find a stunning display of delicate jewelry fashioned from turquoise and gold. Experts note that the techniques needed to make these pieces are far beyond what most other civilizations of the time had available to them, making these especially spectacular. Look for pieces that portray the Lord of Sipan himself. Finally, on the bottom floor, guests can view authentic reproductions of the tombs in the exact state in which they were found, including a number of beautiful objects such as gold pectoral plates and Lord Sipan’s sandals, which were crafted of precious metals. (He was carried everywhere!)  Also look for the large moving diorama of the Lord of Sipan and his entourage, which is quite fascinating. Kids especially love this part of the museum.

All the signage in this museum is in Spanish. However, English-speaking guides are available for a fee of about $20 USD. Hiring a guide is well worth the expense and makes the museum much more enjoyable.

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