ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXCAVATIONS AT KORICANCHA

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The excavations carried out under the right side (epistle) of the Church, specifically between the first and second columns, a discovery of utmost significance to archaeology was made. This finding focuses on the original foundations of the Solar Hall of Koricancha, which holds a preeminent status within the entire complex of the Inca Sun Temple. This Hall housed the twelve golden statues representing the twelve Inca sovereigns, making it a site of great historical importance.

The discovered bases, of impressive dimensions, date back to the mythical stage of Koricancha. These are finely crafted blocks of «green diorite», comparable in quality to the sources located beneath the Sancta Sanctorum. According to the statements of archaeologist Italo Oberti, who led the archaeological excavation, these bases were part of the original foundation of Koricancha, called «Inticancha»; a significant discovery that, as we will see shortly with the research of Dr. Rolf Müller, challenges the foundational history of Koricancha in the current cultural narrative about the antiquity of the «Inca Temple of the Sun».

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George Kubler (1951) in the report of the mission sent by UNESCO and collected in the book "Cuzco, Reconstruction of the City and Restoration of its Monuments" mentions the existence of four crypts in the High Altar and the Crossing of the Church:

"Under the main chapel and the transept there are no Inca constructions, but four burial crypts from the 17th century"... "The Church rests on a series of colonial-era burial crypts, four of which have been uncovered. Of the two crypts beneath the High Altar, the northern one had to be repaired at its western end, where the keystones had collapsed."

At the time we began work within the church sector, only three of the crypts mentioned by Kubler existed. Over these 50 years, a fourth crypt had disappeared. The information provided by the Ground Penetrating Radar as it passed through the left side of the transept, an area called the Altar of Santa Rosa, the remote sensing equipment observed the presence of a void or inner chamber.

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Upon excavating in this area, a 17th-century crypt was discovered, as Kubler had confirmed in his reports. When the Dominican fathers were asked how it came to be that this area was closed off with marble slabs, their response was that they were unaware of the reasons for its closure and who ordered it to be covered.

On March 15, 2001, after systematically marking and removing the marble slabs from the church floor, excavation proceeded beneath the reinforced concrete slab, revealing a staircase with ten steps leading to the crypt.

On March 30, the crypt was opened with great caution as toxic gases (methane) were detected inside and the possibility of the presence of pathogens. The material of stones and mud that sealed the entrance was removed. Subsequently, the Bohic Ruz exploration team entered with special suits to conduct the initial analysis of the contaminating agents.

Within the crypt, a large amount of disordered human bones were found, indicating that the site had been previously desecrated; probably by people who entered during the temple restoration work in the 1950s. The looting resulted in the total disturbance of the bodies located on this first level, as well as the alderwood funeral boxes which were also destroyed by those who entered the site.

Through dating, we confirmed that these bone remains corresponded to the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries. These burials are associated with funeral offerings consisting of Spanish-designed silks. The excavation inside reached an average depth of 1.80 meters. The excavation process was meticulously recorded throughout its sequence of work, including the corresponding excavation sheets.

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In the room that provides access to the bell tower of the Santo Domingo Church, the remote sensing team located evidence of wall-like structures and disturbed elements. Profile analysis showed that the direction of the walls would originate from the center of the church nave towards the bell tower, and it could not be determined if these structures extended beyond the convent or turned towards its interior. After studying the 3D software of the Ground Penetrating Radar, it was decided to open the mentioned area.

In this excavation pit, the following stages were detected that gave rise to the stratigraphic reading:

1) Alluvial deposition caused by the overflow of the Tullumayo River (now Av. El Sol). This is the natural layer on which the Inca building is founded, affected by colonial occupation.

2) Early colonial construction that reuses stones from ancient buildings (Killke), probably remnants of the old bell tower destroyed by the 1650 earthquake.

3) Deposition of colonial and republican burials. These burials have been heavily disturbed, initially by subsequent burials and later by the removals caused for the restoration of the bell tower between 1950 and 1966.

4) Modern floor of the church. To achieve a horizontal and stable surface, it was necessary to fill the early colonial wall and the disturbed burials with stone and concrete fills, and then level the surface with a screed or false floor, and finally place the new church floor. This work was carried out in 1966, before the church was reopened by Monseñor Durand, Bishop of Callao.

RESULTS OF THE EXCAVATIONS BELL TOWER SECTOR

After removing the modern floor of the church, highly disturbed colonial burials (mass grave) were discovered, and levels of alluvial ground without cultural occupation were reached. In the southern part, a double superficial wall built with Killke stone was identified. A series of completely aligned skulls (ritual type) were found attached to the wall.

With the work carried out in this pit, the groundwater levels of the church were analyzed, achieving a very valuable scientific contribution for future analyses of the groundwater table of the Koricancha. The archaeological research in this area was concluded, and the church floor was replaced.

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Under the Main Altar, there are two colonial crypts from the 17th century with a vaulted stone ceiling built with lithic stones from the pre-Hispanic period. After the earthquake that devastated Cusco in 1950, the entire apse of the church collapsed, affecting both crypts. The architect Oscar Ladrón de Guevara, commissioned by UNESCO, carried out the structural consolidation works.

In this excavation pit, the following moments and/or stages that gave rise to the stratigraphic reading were detected:

1) The deposition of alluvial pebbles, part of the Tullumayo River's cone of deposition. The Main Altar crypts were built on this level and were subject to colonial intrusions for the deposition of burials from that time.

2) Colonial intrusion for the deposition of burials, some with wooden coffins and others shrouded.

3) Archaeological excavations in the 1950s to evaluate the foundations of the church's test wall and propose structural modifications to the new Main Altar. At the bottom of the pit, disturbed burial bones resulting from the same excavation were deposited.

4) Pit for burying disturbed bones and cleaning the crypt after the 1960s restoration.

5) New floor or level of use for a completely reconstructed crypt.

6) Debris and garbage accumulated by the Church's activities after its reopening in 1966 to date. Until the start of our work, carpets, lights, cables, vases, etc., and many unused objects were kept in these crypts.

RESULTS OF THE EXCAVATIONS MAIN ALTAR CRYPTS

After the superficial cleaning of modern debris and garbage, some colonial burials were recorded a few centimeters below the surface, two of them mutilated by the restoration works of 1950 and others completely disturbed. These remains have been properly packaged and stored for further pathological study.

The existence of interior passages and contiguous structures was ruled out.