(25 Sep 2006)
1. Wide shot of the Temple of Cahuachi
2. Medium shot of temple
3. Close-up of part of the temple
4. Pan across part of temple
5. Medium shot of the ruins at the temple
6. Close-up of symbols on temple wall
7. Medium shot of the temple wall
8. Set up of archaeologist Giuseppe Orefici
9. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Giuseppe Orefici, Archaeologist and Temple Curator:
"This is a unique situation where there are 24 square kilometres of adobe construction making it the largest in the world. There are no living rooms or bedrooms but just temples. These structures were developed between 400 years before Christ (400 BC) and 400 years after Christ (400 AD). The oldest jewel we have in this sector is the ceremonial centre which was present before the Nazca culture dating to the 5th millennium before Christ (5000 years BC). It was used as a ceremonial ground for all sorts of ceremonies and sacrificial ceremonies as well."
10. Pan across the temple complex showing visitors
++Night Shots++
11. Various of floodlit presentation of the pyramid
12. Medium shot of mummified remains
13. Close-up of mummified hand
14. Vases and jars found in the pyramid
15. Close-up of skull
16. Medium shot of skull and human head
17. Wide shot of archaeologist explaining artifacts found in the temple to press
18. Exterior of museum
STORYLINE:
Italian archaeologist Giuseppe Orefici, who has been excavating the Temple of Cahuachi in Peru for decades, on Saturday unveiled some of the artifacts found inside the platformed mud pyramid.
The Cahuachi site is dominated by a 30 metre (98 feet) high pyramid and houses structures excavated from the landscape, reinforced by adobe walls.
Orefici brings a team of excavators to Cahuachi each year to unearth the treasures buried beneath the site of forty mounds topped with adobe.
"This is a unique situation where there are 24 square kilometres of adobe construction making it the largest in the world. There are no living rooms or bedrooms but just temples," said Orefici.
The pyramids at Cahuachi are similar in shape to the pyramids built by the Aztecs in Mexico.
Cahuachi itself is close to the mysterious Nazca Lines and the temple is believed to have served as a major ceremonial centre of the Nazca culture.
Nazca lines are enigmatic markings etched into the Peruvian desert, consisting of 300 hundred figures made of straight lines and geometric shapes, most clearly visible from the air.
It is theorised that the permanent population of Cahuachi city was small but that it might have been a pilgrimage centre and visited by many people during ceremonial events.
"The oldest jewel we have in this sector is the ceremonial centre which was present before the Nazca culture dating to the 5th millennium before Christ (5000 years BC). It was used as a ceremonial ground for all sorts of ceremonies and sacrificial ceremonies as well," Orefici told reporters.
The Nazca Lines show creatures such as orca and monkeys which were not present in the Nazca region.
Trade or travel may also explain the images, reinforcing the pilgrimage theory.
The climate is dry in Cahuachi helping to preserve archaeological artifacts and excavators have found many valuable objects including mummified bodies and clothing.
Looting of the site remains a serious problem facing Cahuachi, officials said.
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