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An Ancient Fear in Modern Times
In the northern state of Lambayeque, near the coastline of Peru, there is a site that bears all the hallmarks of ancient, fearful legends. Unlike many legends, this one still exists and its powers still send ripples of fear through the populace.
Surrounded by fertile farmland, Túcume sits in stark contrast, a patch of land that looks like it was carved out of a cursed region of the dark side of the moon. If it weren’t for the purposeful arrangement of the structures, the ruined pyramids might pass as a bizarre natural formation. But there’s nothing natural about these structures.
The pyramids of Túcume aren’t an isolated achievement. 200 more pyramids are scattered about the valley. An ancient model found at one of the sites reveals that the pyramids were built according to a strict master template.
The proliferation of pyramids makes one thing certain: The inhabitants of Lambayeque were dedicated, obsessive builders. As fascinating as the pyramids are from an archaeological standpoint, the silent drumbeat of terror is impossible to ignore.
A Harrowing History
The thrills and chills of Túcume have, strangely, come from more than one source. In the 16th century, the conquering Spanish created an elaborate stage play of terror around the site to control the locals. They spread the word that the site was the entrance to Hell itself, and they weren’t content to just use words.
Túcume’s pyramids are built around a central, imposing mountain. The Spanish would build bonfires on the mountain that would look supernatural and eerie from a distance. When villagers wouldn’t convert to Christianity, the offenders were taken to the mountain to be burned. They also got up close and personal with their theatrics.
Imagine being a rural dweller in your traditional village. You hear the ominous sound of bells echoing off the hills. You turn to see a horse-drawn wagon being driven by bizarre figures wearing horned masks. They’re headed towards Túcume. You shiver as you wonder who these demons from Hell captured this time.
The festival of Danza del Diablo was inspired by this fear campaign. But people know better now, so what’s keeping the grip of terror in place today?
Witch Doctors and Strangling Spirits
It’s eerie enough that the locals regard Túcume as a cursed necropolis. But this fear is amplified by the fact that the spirits of the pyramids are frequently invoked by medicine men and witch doctors. Some of these practitioners are healers. The majority are not. In fact, the region surrounding Túcume contains the highest concentration of witch doctors in all of South America. These are the calibre of practitioners that can be hired to kill with black magic.
Even skeptics that don’t invest in the notion of magic have been forced to reckon with the fact that there’s something inside those pyramids outside the norm. The Norwegian archaeologist Thor Heyerdahl wanted to excavate the pyramids of Túcume. The operation was slow going. It was nearly impossible to find any help to hire. Nobody was on board with the idea of going near those pyramids, not even for money.
He also had to go through the arduous process of getting on the good side of the collective mob of witch doctors that called the spirits of the dead their friends. Even after getting their approval, there were some that still weren’t happy with Heyerdahl and his crew invading the pyramids. The researchers frequently discovered carcasses of slaughtered animals meant to bring black magic and curses.
A memorable moment came one night when Heyerdahl retired for the night and left a watchman to guard the dig site. The watchman, allegedly, was assaulted by an invisible attacker that had the strength to strangle. The watchman fled his post. This wasn’t the first or the last of Heyerdahl’s supernatural problems.
Are you brave enough to come near Túcume? Or would you rather stick to “safer” places like Macchu Picchu? Peru is your oyster when you book a trip with a licensed tour operator like TOUR IN PERU. They can help with everything except protective wards from witch doctors.
