Mummies From A Lost Civilization

Put this on my wish list. Warriors of the Clouds: A Lost Civilization in the Upper Amazon of Peru by Keith Muscutt.

Drudge caught my attention with some strikingly gruesome photos.

[Twelve] mummies were recovered from the massive cave complex 82ft down.

The vault — which was also used for worship — was chanced upon three months ago by a farmer working at the edge of northern Peru's rainforest. He tipped off scientists who uncovered ceramics, textiles and wall paintings.

The Chachapoyas were a tall, fairhaired, light-skinned race that some researchers believe may have come from Europe.

Little is known about them except that they were one of the more advanced ancient civilisations in the area. Adept at fighting, they commanded a large kingdom from the year 800 to 1500 that stretched across the Andes.