Customer Reviews

Royal Tombs of Sipan

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As an ancient history enthusiast, I found this book to be a fabulous discovery on my part. The oversized format and pull-out recreations are pure joys to the reader. The excellent text, penned by the excavating archaeologist and by the leading authority on Moche iconography, is illustrated with wonderfully detailed photos as well as line drawings of scenes imprinted upon the artifacts themselves. I recommend this volume to anyone interested in pre-Inca history and art, as well as to anyone fascinated by the mystery revolving around the discovery of ancient treasures.

Much is known and published about the Incas of Peru, but, in comparison, little is known about the great Kingdom of the Moches. In the Northwest aired coastal plains of Peru flourished the Moche kingdom between the first and eighth century A.D.

This highly stratified culture, constructed and maintained a vast irrigation canal system, pyramids, places and temples. The Royal Tombs of Sipan was written to serve as a museum catalogue of the finds. The discovery, excavation, and current

interpretation of the three royal tombs recovered from Sipan happened between 1987 and 1990.

This book is wonderful. The beautiful color plates that chronologically lay out this amazing discovery makes the archeological dig at Sipan come alive. Highly recommended for those students of Archeology and those who are interested in the diverse Peruvian Culture.

I purchased this after our return from Peru and a visit to the Museo Tumbas Reales De Sipan in Lambayeque. The Museum and its collections were stunning and we wanted to have something to show people when we returned about the fabulous artwork and cultural artifacts of the Moche as photograpy was prohibited in the museum.

There was no bookstore at the museum so I purchased this book on Amazon. As noted in the description it was published in 1993 and therefore could not have included all of the more recently excavated finds or restored artwork present in the museum which is the only problem with the book. The book is a good purchase for the account of the excavation and the description of Moche culture. There are many images included of Moche arts that were excavated at Sipan that to the surprise of most visitors eclipse the quality of the later Incas and are some of the most beautiful and intricate arts of antiquity.