Silver cups from ancient Peruvian civilization change Chachapoya history

Two decorated silver cups found in the Chachapoyas region of Peru may rewrite the history of the enigmatic ancient people, who had never been known to do metalworking before this discovery.

Though the “people of the clouds,” as the name Chachapoya means, had cities, a form of Inca writing, and long-distance trade, they were not known as metalsmiths. It is still possible, however, that the two cups were from the Inca people, with whom the Chachapoya had warred.

The silver vessels were excavated by an archaeological team in the Soloco Purunllacta in Chachapoyas of the Amazonas department. They are unlike anything found there before.

“The finding of these vessels will change the story about Chachapoyas,” Jose Santos Trauco Ramos of the Decentralized Department of Culture of the Amazonas, told El Comercio.

The vessels, which have similar, raised decorations, each weigh 152 grams (5.36 ounces) and are 112 millimeters (4.4 inches) high and 117 millimeters (4.6 inches) in diameter. They are between 0.8 and 1 mm thick and show no corrosion of any type. They will go display at the Museum of Chachapoyas, which has yet to open.