Lima, Peru – International researchers have uncovered what appears to be an unprecedented 14th-century manuscript at a remote Inca site in the Andes. The 200-page codex features intricate illustrations of celestial charts mixed with pre-Columbian iconography and early European script.
"This manuscript bridges two worlds,"
Dr. Elena Marenco, lead archaeologist from the National Institute of Archaeology, noted in a press release. "The document appears to trace trade routes between Andean civilizations and Iberian kingdoms during a critical period of cultural exchange."
Key Discoveries:
- Over 200 pages in a unique mix of Quechua symbols and Latin script
- Depictions of astronomical events not referenced in other historical records
- Evidence of Andean metallurgy techniques predating current historical models
Carbon dating confirms the parchment dates to 1342 AD. The document was discovered in a sealed chamber beneath the ruins of Quito's 13th-century fortress complex, wrapped in protective layers of plant fibers.
Preservation efforts continue at the Quito Historical Research Facility. Digital reproductions will be made publicly available later this month on the National Digital Archives platform.