The Hidden Treasures: The Use of Computed Tomography to Study Metal Objects in Funerary Bundles from the Central Coast of Peru

This work presents a methodological alternative to the traditional study of objects arranged inside funerary bundles, with the aim of preserving the integrity of the bundle and optimizing the material resources and costs derived from the storage and unwrapping processes. The research employs computerized tomographic scans to study the metal artifacts chosen to accompany the individuals arranged inside funerary bundles. It is the first systematic characterization of funerary treatment to focus on the presence of metal objects as part of burial offerings and their relationship with the body of the deceased individuals in the Andean area. Analyzing a total of 85 funerary bundles from the central coast of Peru, the study identified 26 bundles, dating to between AD 1100 and 1532, that contained at least one metal object. The objects were recorded to identify their use, decoration, measurements, location within the bundle, and the presence of any other objects associated with the individual, which made it possible to discern metal objects present in bundles corresponding to female, male, and nonadult individuals. The research concludes that the presence of metal artifacts in a funerary bundle is an indicator of elevated status, although the choice of specific artifacts is determined by elements of an individual’s identity.