The Giants of Peru: Conquistadors' Eyewitness Accounts and the Mystery of Ancient Skeletons

Spanish records show that some skeletons were measured and studied, then suddenly disappeared over time.

The Giants of Peru

When the Spanish conquistadors arrived in South America in the 16th century, they anticipated discovering gold, spices, and strange civilizations. However, they did not expect to encounter legends of giants, and even more surprisingly, reports of actual giant skeletons unearthed by the native people that they claimed to have seen with their own eyes.

Peru, a land rich in ancient ruins and myths that predate written history, was home to numerous indigenous tribes with oral traditions that spoke of enormous humans who once walked the Earth. These were not merely exaggerated tribal tales; early European chroniclers documented what they believed to be physical evidence of these giants. For centuries, these accounts have sparked debates and remain one of the most puzzling mysteries of early colonial exploration.

This article explores what the Spanish conquerors witnessed, what the native legends convey, and what possible explanations might exist for these alleged giants of Peru.

Part I: Eyewitness Reports from the Spanish Conquistadors

One of the most well-known accounts comes from Pedro Cieza de León, a Spanish chronicler who traveled through Peru in the early 1500s. In his writings, he describes stories told by the native people about a group of giant men who arrived by sea, landing on the Peruvian coast near what is now the province of Santa.

According to the locals, these men were so tall that an average-sized man would barely reach their knees. They possessed long hair, powerful voices, and monstrous appetites. It was said that they raped women, consumed animals raw, and desecrated the land until a bolt of fire, potentially divine punishment, struck them down.

Cieza de León claimed that even during his time, the bones of these beings were still visible. He witnessed enormous rib bones, skulls, and femurs that were far too large for an ordinary human.

His account was not the only one. Juan de Betanzos, another Spanish chronicler, also documented tales of giants living in the region before the rise of the Inca Empire. He wrote that the Incas themselves spoke of having fought and driven out these beings, whose skeletons, according to him, were buried beneath the earth but occasionally uncovered.

Lastly, Garcilaso de la Vega, the son of a Spanish conquistador and an Inca noblewoman, noted in his Comentarios Reales de los Incas that stories of giants were taken seriously among the people. These figures were not merely mythological; they were believed to have been historical figures.

Part II: The Native Legends of Ancient Beings

Before the arrival of the Spanish, the native people of Peru preserved tales of tall, powerful beings. The Chachapoya, known as the "Cloud People" of northern Peru, was described by both Inca and Spanish sources as unusually fair-skinned and tall. While not giants by today's fantasy standards, they were taller than most Andean people and built impressive mountain fortresses.

Other stories refer to a race of beings called the Viracochas, godlike figures who were tall, pale, and came from the sea to civilize the Andes. In some versions of the myth, the Viracochas were mistaken for gods because of their size and advanced technology.

The Ayar brothers are also legendary figures in Inca mythology. Some accounts describe them as possessing superhuman strength and size. Whether these myths are literal or symbolic, their message is clear: once, a race of beings was much larger and more powerful than ordinary humans.

Part III: Skeletons in the Soil

What did the conquistadors see? Were they exaggerating mistakes, or were the bones they reported real?

Strange skeletal remains have been unearthed throughout Peru, particularly in coastal regions. In some areas, elongated skulls are often attributed to ancient cranial deformation practices, but others have discovered femurs and tibias, suggesting individuals over seven or even 8 feet tall.

One notable case occurred in Trujillo, where a burial site contained bones that were much larger than those of a typical human. Spanish records show that some skeletons were measured and studied, disappearing over time. Whether they were taken to Europe, destroyed, or lost to history remains a mystery.

Explorers have uncovered bones suggesting unusual sizes and proportions in the Nazca region. While mainstream archaeology often attributes these findings to medical abnormalities or misidentified animal bones, local traditions consistently describe the area as once inhabited by giant humans, not metaphorical giants, but real ones.

Part IV: Possible Explanations

Several theories attempt to explain the accounts of giants in Peru:

1. Mythological Interpretation: Some scholars argue that these giants were symbolic figures representing powerful enemy tribes or deities. The conquistadors, unfamiliar with local myths, may have taken symbolic language literally.

2. Gigantism or Genetic Mutation: Some individuals may have suffered from medical conditions leading to extraordinary growth. A few such cases could have inspired legends of a larger race.

3. Misidentified Bones: Some bones, like mastodons or giant ground sloths, may belong to animals. Early explorers might have misunderstood what they saw due to a lack of modern tools.

4. Actual Ancient Race: A more controversial theory suggests that an ancient race of tall humans, either a lost branch of humanity or an extinct people, once lived in South America. Supporters point to similar legends in North America, Easter Island, and Mesopotamia, which describe ancient giants.

5. Ancient Astronaut Theory: Popularized by authors like Erich von Däniken, this theory proposes that the "giants" were extraterrestrials mistaken for gods due to their size, appearance, and technology. In this view, the bones may represent hybrid offspring or altered humans.

Part V: What Remains Today?

Despite the passage of centuries, local legends continue to speak of giants. Villagers in some areas of Peru still tell stories of enormous beings that once roamed the land. Some even claim to have seen bones or burial chambers hidden in the mountains or jungles.

Archaeologists and adventurers continue to explore these regions, occasionally uncovering strange remains or structures that defy conventional explanations. However, much of the evidence reported by the Spanish has been lost to time, either hidden in private collections, destroyed, or decayed.

The question remains unanswered: Were the giants of Peru real?

Mystery in the Mountains

The story of the Peruvian giants blends history, legend, and mystery. It challenges us to consider whether all myths are merely myths, or if some are echoes of forgotten realities. The reports of the conquistadors, supported by the oral histories of native peoples, suggest that something extraordinary may have occurred in the valleys and mountains of ancient Peru.

Whether they were gods, monsters, or misunderstood humans, the giants of Peru have left a lasting mark on the imagination, and perhaps even the soil, of a land steeped in mystery. As we dig through history and the earth, we may uncover the truth someday.

Until then, the giants of Peru will remain just out of reach, towering figures in both legend and the shadowy corners of forgotten history.