Warmi Hampicamayoc: The tattooed healers of the Cerro Colorado cemetery, Huacho, Vall e de Huaura, Peru

Abstract

Archaeological excavations conducted in the cemetery of Cerro Colorado, Huaura valley, Huacho, between 2014 and 2015, today occupied by a human settlement called Los Pinos, ex-Fujimori, directed by Pieter van Dalen Luna of the UNMSM, have allowed the recovery of about 1 265 individuals, of which, 18 adults exhibit tattoos (1.42 %). Of this sample, 12 are female (66.6 %) and 6 are male (33.3 %). The analysis of the trousseau, pathologies and traumatic injuries of the tattooed individuals allowed us to define that they were related to quackery activities. They were basically farmers. Two hypotheses are discussed, one concerning that the individuals who carry tattoos would be the ruling elite of the complex Chancay society and, another, that they would be agricultural healers and that these motifs would represent the forces of the earth, air, water and fire. It is concluded that the use of tattoos among the ancient men of the Huaura valley during the Late Intermediate and Late Horizon period (1200-1532 AD) had a deep religious meaning related to wakanism.