Algunas consideraciones acerca del hallazgo de una flauta globular de caracol marino en un contexto funerario Chachapoya (Provincia de Luya, Departamento Amazonas)

The find of a marine snail species, Fusinus irregularis, in a Chachapoya funerary context leads to a conclusion about the social status of the deceased. The mollusk has been modified to serve as a musical instrument. Two thin ceramic bowls, beads, a miniature sarcophagus, and various metal objects were among the other grave goods that accompanied the principal personage. These extraordinary funerary items and especially the fractures observed in the skull of this male individual offer strong evidence that the deceased was a warrior. Other funerary contexts similar to this one are associated with cave paintings depicting individuals with attributes of warriors and scenes of trophy head hunting. The spanish chronicler Martin de Murúa informed us that the system of chiefdoms, which until now has been postulated as the "ideal" form of Chachapoya socio-political organization, was introduced primarily by the conquering Inca. Recent research proposes that before the arrival of the Inca, the Chachapoya societies were almost egalitarian with little social stratification likely lacking in political authority, and only in the case of a military threat they appointed warlords.