Lost Peruvian fresco known only from photographs rediscovered after 100 years

The photographs of the mural — the only previous proof of its existence — were taken in the year 1916 by the German ethnologist Hans Heinrich Bruning, who lived in Peru. He studied both the Aguaruna, the indigenous people who primarily live along the Marañón River and some of its tributaries.

After some initial resistance, Mr Brunning was able to study the Moche people — completing a dictionary of their language in 1917 — after participating in local rituals.

He became aware of the Huaca Pintada temple site after hearing of the activities of treasure hunters who had tried to loot it, but found nothing of value to them to steal.

After Mr Brunning took his snapshots of the fresco, it became obscured under thick foliage and lost to the annals of history — until the photographs piqued Mr Ghavami’s interest.

It took the archaeologist and his group of local students four years, however, to locate and visit the artwork, having struggled for some time to obtain permission from the landowners to be able to visit the site to study it.

Article source: https://www.express.co.uk/news/science/1704664/lost-peruvian-fresco-Huaca-Pintada-temple-moche-found-100-years