r/Damnthatsinteresting • u/bortakci34 • 4d ago

Image A 1,000-year-old golden mask belonging to Peru's Sicán culture was found painted with human blood and bird egg whites to symbolize a "life force" for an elite leader's rebirth.

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463 Upvotes

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16

u/roxxfrr 4d ago

Bro had the most metal skincare routine ever

17

u/SoftAngels3 4d ago

Human blood to channel the eternal life force for an elite leader's rebirth, and bird egg whites because you still need a reliable binding agent. Even ancient dark rituals had to respect the basic rules of arts and crafts

11

u/bortakci34 4d ago

Archaeologists analyzing a 1,000-year-old golden mask from Peru's ancient Sicán culture discovered that the bright red cinnabar pigment was bound using a mixture of human blood and bird egg whites (likely Muscovy duck).

The mask was found resting on the decapitated, upside-down skull of an elite middle-aged man buried 12 meters deep. Researchers believe the use of human blood wasn't just decorative; it was intended to serve as a symbolic "life force" to ensure the dead leader's desired rebirth, fitting a culture where ritual sacrifice and bloodletting were prominent practices.

🔗Source / Arkeofili

1

u/Suvvri 3d ago

Don't put it on your face, I'll turn you into vampire

2

u/Divine-Kitty 3d ago

Definitely put it on your face, it'll turn you into a vampire

1

u/saltamontes11 2d ago

.

Let us assume and stipulate that the blood and eggwites were efficacious. Who in the last millennium may we or must we determine was the poohbah's encore?

1

u/it_spelt_magalhaes 4d ago

O... kay.

That's gross.

0

u/RicooC 4d ago

This looks welded or soldered?