Among the set of funerary offerings associated with the artisan, numerous bags with various contents were discovered. Most of the objects inside these bags were likely tools and raw materials used by the individual during their lifetime, particularly in the creation of fine cane baskets intended for the elite of the Castillo de Huarmey.
One of these bags, made from cotton threads, prominently features an abstract motif of catfish heads, a symbol widely disseminated in the iconography of the northern coast of Peru. Inside, there were skeins of dyed camelid fibers in red, black, and yellow, seeds of Nectandra (a psychoactive plant native to tropical habitats), and a miniature rolled cotton bag.
In addition to skeins and balls of yarn in various colors, other bags contained black bean seeds (Phaseolus vulgaris), cut canes, ropes made of plant fiber, chalk fragments, resin blocks, spindles with threads, as well as flint and obsidian flakes.
The second bag, known as a chuspa, stands out for its artistic quality and remarkable state of preservation, thanks to the extremely dry conditions of the Peruvian coast. The chuspa was found inside a bundle located at the feet of the funerary fardo and remains sewn to the textile that originally wrapped it.
The chuspa had an essential function for its bearer: it contained and transported the sacred coca leaves (Erythroxylum coca), a crucial element in social relations and spiritual practices of the Andean world. Coca leaves played an essential role in religious rituals, served as an item for trade, and was used as a stimulant in daily life. Since coca plant does not grow on the coast due to its need for high humidity to grow successfully, the inhabitants of the Huarmey valley likely traded this plant with other regions or cultivated it in higher-altitude areas.
A particularly interesting aspect is the metal knife attached to the bag by a leather strap. This knife had not only functional value but also symbolic significance, possibly reflecting a different social status. The chuspa‘s strap, made with cotton warps and camelid fiber wefts, is decorated with intricate and colorful abstract motifs.
Roberto Pimentel Nita