A PERUVIAN'S BEST FRIEND
Cindy Maddera
Itâs kind of nice to know that this generation isnât the only one that pampers their dogs. Archeologists have uncovered pet cemeteries in Peru. The cemeteries belong to a pre-Columbian culture of people called the Chiribaya. The Chiribaya people were farmers of the Osmore River valley from 900 A.D. to 1350 A.D. This was before the Inca Empire. So far researchers have uncovered 82 dog tombs, laid alongside human tombs. The dogs were buried with blankets and treats (Ahh). Anthropologist Sonia Guillen is quick to point out that the dogs were not sacrificed; âthey are dogs that were thanked and recognized for their social and familial contributionsâ?.
Researchers are currently doing genetic testing to try to find a link between the Chiribaya dogs and the Peruvian dog. The Peruvian dogs are known for being good shepherds much like the Chiribaya dogs.