A massive, vividly colored mural, believed to be more than 3,000 years old, has been unearthed at an archaeological site on the northwest coast of Peru. The structure was uncovered during a recent excavation and is thought to belong to the Formative Period, when the region’s first complex societies emerged.
According to GB News, the find has been described by archaeologists as “unprecedented” due to its age and the exceptional state of the wall surface. The mural’s discovery is expected to contribute valuable data on early ceremonial architecture, without yet revealing the full extent of its symbolic content.
Discovery Made During First Week of Excavation
The remarkable find took place during the first week of excavation in early July 2025, at Huaca Yolanda, a ceremonial temple complex located in the La Libertad region. The dig is led by Dr Ana Cecilia Mauricio from the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú (PUCP).
Dr Mauricio described the moment of discovery as “stunning.” Speaking to Live Science, she stated:
This mural at Huaca Yolanda is unique. Nothing like it has ever been recorded in the area.
The imagery, decorative techniques and exceptional state of preservation make this a truly unprecedented discovery in the region.
Six-Meter Canvas of Gods, Falcons and Stars
The mural stretches six meters wide and stands nearly three meters tall. Despite its age, it retains vivid blue, yellow, red, and black pigments. The artwork includes images of fish, fishing nets, stars, mythological beings, and human figures.
The southern wall displays a large bird—possibly an eagle or falcon—with outstretched wings and a diamond-shaped motif on its head. To the north, plant imagery, cosmic symbols, and figures resembling shamans dominate the design.
A Forgotten Style, Reborn
The mural is dated to the Formative Period (2000–1000 BCE), a crucial era when the first complex societies arose in Peru. Mauricio emphasized the importance of its coastal iconography, which differs significantly from inland styles.
Current evidence suggests that the mural decorated interior spaces within the main atrium of a Formative Period temple – she explained.
At that time, temples were seen as centers of power, and shamans occupied the highest ranks in the social hierarchy.
Urgent Call to Preserve Ancient Heritage
The discovery is currently facing significant threats from ongoing looting activities and the encroachment of agricultural machinery operating near the site. In response to these risks, the archaeological team has issued a clear and urgent appeal to local and national authorities:
Protective fencing, archaeological conservation, and surveillance are urgently needed to preserve this rare window into a formative and sophisticated past.
If protected, the mural may redefine our understanding of early Andean culture, providing a visual narrative once feared lost to time.