Colonial-Era Hospital and Church Excavated in Lima

Lima's historic district has yielded a significant archaeological discovery, with the remains of a 16th-century hospital and church unearthed at the sanctuary of Santa Rosa de Lima. According to Luis Martín Bogdanovich Mendoza of the Municipal Program for the Recovery of the Historic Center of Lima (Prolima), the hospital was founded in 1573 by a Greek merchant to care for seafarers and their families. Each room had a small altar so that the patients could hear mass while in bed. The excavation team, led by Bogdanovich, has uncovered a cobblestone floor at the entrance to the hospital, brick floors, and walls made of river stone. The hospital's remains are significant not only for their historical value but also for the insight they provide into the lives of people living in Lima during the colonial era. The discovery of several burials under the floor of the main chapel suggests that the hospital was not only a place of healing but also a place of death and mourning. The church, which was eventually deconsecrated in the mid-nineteenth century and demolished in the 1940s, has also yielded some interesting finds. Tiles made in Valencia, Spain, have been dated to the eighteenth century, providing evidence of the significant trade networks that existed during the Spanish colonial period. The discovery of the hospital and church is a testament to the rich history of Lima and the importance of preserving and protecting its cultural heritage. As Bogdanovich noted, the excavation of the site has provided a unique opportunity to learn more about the lives of people living in Lima during the colonial era. The excavation of the hospital and church is a significant discovery that sheds new light on the history of Lima and the colonial era. It highlights the importance of preserving and protecting cultural heritage sites and the value of archaeological research in uncovering the secrets of the past.