Revash

The Revash burial houses, dramatically located in a limestone cliff above the Utcubamba valley, can be reached on foot or by horse/mule from a car park near the village of Yerbabuena.

Unlike other sites in the region, the sarcophagi of Revash have the shape of houses. These have survived the centuries largely unscathed on the outside, but the mummies inside have been plundered or destroyed by rodents. However, bone finds have shown that the mummies were not individual graves.

The houses, built of clay and reed, have cornices in the upper part of the walls. The walls are painted with depictions of wild cats, llamas and humans as well as geometric motifs in red and beige tones. In addition, they have openings and incisions in T or cross form as well as rectangles. Analogous to other local cultures, the cross-shaped ornaments are attributed the symbolic meaning of depicting the little bear (Juan Oso), a ‘bear man’ endowed with superhuman powers. The excellent museum of Leymebamba also owes its treasure to mummification as a form of burial.

Chachapoyas is a good starting point for guided tours to Revash, since there are also good accommodations.