Professor's Peru findings placed in exhibit in Japan

A university professor is being recognized around the world for his extensive research on an ancient culture that predates the Inca civilization.

Izumi Shimada, a professor of anthropology, met with the president of Peru earlier this week to discuss the opening of an exhibit in Japan that would feature Shimada’s findings from the Sicãn culture. 

The Sicãns, which were named by Shimada, were primarily located in what is now the north coast of Peru between about 750 and 1375.

Shimada founded an active international project, the Sicán Archeological Project (SAP), in Northern Peru, and his been excavating sites since 1978. The project has found and analyzed hundreds of Sicãn artifacts and would be on display for a year and a half in Japan.

The SAP has conducted 24 seasons of fieldwork at 15 sites of varied size, period and character, mostly in Batãn Grande-Poma, the project’s Web site states.

Shimada said the project is the longest-running archaeological field project in South America to date.

Last summer, his crew found three major tombs in Peru, but looters had disturbed two, Shimada said. He said one was completely intact with a crown, mask and other artifacts. Shimada said graves are found with ‘ground penetrating radar.’

“It’s not a magic wand,” Shimada said. “It only tells you that there is something that may be worth looking into.”

Kayeleigh Sharp, a graduate student from Penrose, Colo. in anthropology, said Shimada has become an icon in Japan.

“I do not think that many people get to meet with the president (of Peru), and it is really an honor,” Sharp said.

Sharp said she came to the university solely because of Shimada’s well-known project. She said the most impressive thing about Shimada is his down-to-earth nature. 

“As an adviser and mentor, he is always accessible and willing to take the time to listen, offer constructive criticism and share ideas,” Sharp said.

Sharp said unlike many projects, SAP did not begin with mortuary analyses.   She said projects that focus on sumptuous tombs are problematic because they can create a very biased picture of the goals of archaeology and of the cultures being investigated.

During Shimada’s most recent excursion, the group found tons of ash and food remains from the civilization.

Go Matsumoto, a graduate student from Japan in anthropology and archeology, has traveled with Shimada since 1998 and said he was in charge of the excavating unit in the plaza during the trip.

Sharp said the site could lead to further findings.

“Go’s plaza and possible food preparation area is west of the main pyramid.   I suspect that there is a strong ceremonial link to the group who occupied or used the pyramid, the plaza and the tombs,” Sharp said.

Sharp said she spent six weeks in Peru with Shimada and was not present for any tomb excavations.

Shimida said he already has suspicion there is some kind of tomb. He said even 1,000 years later they could pick the bodies apart and get information.

He said even their diets could be known through DNA.