The Sarcophagi of Carajía are a remarkable archaeological site located in the Utcubamba Valley, about 18 km northwest of Chachapoyas city in the Luya Province, Amazonas Region of Peru. These pre-Inca funerary structures belong to the Chachapoyas culture and are notable for their size, craftsmanship, and preservation.
The site consists of seven large sarcophagi, standing up to 2.5 meters (8.2 feet) tall, perched on a cliff face high above a river gorge. Originally, there were eight sarcophagi, but one was toppled by an earthquake in 1928. Their inaccessible location has protected them from looters, allowing them to remain largely intact since their creation.
These sarcophagi, known locally as purunmachus, are constructed of clay, sticks, and grasses. They have a distinctive anthropomorphic shape with exaggerated jawlines. The exteriors are painted white and decorated with yellow ochre and red pigments, depicting details such as feathered tunics and male genitalia. A unique feature of the Carajía sarcophagi is the presence of human skulls placed atop some of the heads.
Radiocarbon dating has placed the construction of these sarcophagi in the 15th century, coinciding with the Inca conquest of the Chachapoyas people in the 1470s. This timing suggests they may represent one of the last expressions of traditional Chachapoyan funerary practices before Inca influence took hold.
The Sarcophagi of Carajía were rediscovered in modern times during the Antisuyo Expedition of 1984. Archaeologists had to scale a 24-meter vertical rock face to access the site. Examination of one damaged sarcophagus revealed that it contained a mummy seated on an animal skin and wrapped in mortuary cloths, accompanied by ceramics and other burial offerings.
These sarcophagi represent an important example of Chachapoyan funerary customs and provide valuable insights into the culture’s beliefs about death and the afterlife. Their preservation and study continue to contribute to our understanding of pre-Columbian Andean civilizations.
