The Lord of Sipan, so-called in honour of the place the personage was found, was buried in the second century A.D. He was placed with great care, his head facing south, his eyes, nose and mouth covered with gold ornaments and his feet with silver shoes. Women, children, llamas and the best warriors were sacrificed to be buried with him to accompany and protect him on his last journey to another life. Sipan is a word in the extinct language of the Moches and its closest translation would be House or Temple of the Moon, or House of the Lords. The structure found at Sipan is made up of three pyramid-shaped rooms in which the governor is accompanied by a royal entourage. Later excavations revealed the tombs of the Old Lord of Sipan and The Priest, and they were also buried with numerous companions and guards.

Beyond the spectacular sight of the discovery and the beauty of their rich adornments, the Royal Tombs of the Lord of Sipan have allowed archaeologists and historians to reconstruct an unknown facet of the impressive Moche civilization, which for centuries governed a large part of the north in ancient Peru. Today, and after being exhibited in different countries in the Americas, Europe and Asia, the remains of the Lord of Sipan rest in a museum especially built for him, the Royal Tombs of Sipan Museum.