Fresh Inca treasures unearthed as discovery of nine tombs in Peruvian Andes is hailed as 'the most significant since Machu Picchu'

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER
Last updated at 12:49 PM on 25th February 2011

It could force historians to reconsider the origins of the mighty Inca empire.

Archaeologists have discovered and excavated nine tombs in Peru from the pre-Hispanic Wari civilisation, the Peruvian government said yesterday.

The finding in the southern Cusco region suggests the Wari, who flourished in the Peruvian Andes between 700 and 1200 AD, may have controlled areas where the Inca empire later flourished.

Historically important: Archaeologists have discovered nine tombs in Peru from the pre-Hispanic Wari civilization. The finding in the southern Cusco region suggests the Wari may have controlled areas where the Inca empire later flourished

Juan Ossio, Peru's minister of culture, said: 'The Incas could have been inspired by the Wari culture, enabling them to develop their entire political system.'

The Incas built the largest empire in the New World between 1400 and 1532 AD.

Spanish conquistadors had seized control of their territory, pushing them to take final refuge in the Vilcabamba district in Cusco, where the tombs were found.

The tombs show the Wari also inhabited the thick jungles of Vilcabamba and possibly inspired the political structure of the elaborate Inca empire, Mr Ossio said.

Prize find: This silver breastplate belonged to a noble from the Wari culture

The remains of a Wari noble with a silver breastplate is the prize of the find.

Archaeologists have dubbed the noble the 'The Lord of Vilca' in reference to the Lord of Sipan, an intact third century mummy found in northern Peru in 1987.

'This is the most important discovery we've had in recent years - perhaps since Machu Picchu,' said Juan Garcia, regional culture director of Cusco, referring to the Incan citadel that draws some 500,000 visitors per year.

Peru will celebrate the 100-year anniversary of Machu Picchu's discovery in July. Yale University last year agreed to return thousands of artifacts taken from the site in the early 1900s, ending a bitter controversy.