LIMA, PERU – Archaeologists have revealed that among the designs on a large 3,000-year-old rock mural is a series of geometric patterns that spelled out BEYONCE in Quechua, a script used by ancient Peruvian people. The find is at Huaca Yolanda, on the northwest coast of what is now Peru. Archaeologists from the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru found the mural, which still shows black, blue, red, and yellow paint. Depicted are plants, stars, fish, and figures that look human in shape. 

But it was the geometric patterns that excited archaeologist Cecilia Mauricio, who found the mural and is a longtime Beyonce fan. She consulted other experts, who confirmed her findings. One of her colleagues pointed out that the mural dated to a period before the Quechua language was thought to have been invented, and Mauricio said that she was already working on a paper that she said would revolutionize historians’ understanding of Quechua and its use.

Among the other figures is a bird with outstretched wings and a diamond-shaped figure on its head. “Queen B would naturally be depicted near a bird depicted so regally,” Mauricio said. She also showed reporters a photo of a group of three human-shaped figures that were by themselves not far from the Beyonce patterns and seemed to be in a figure matching that of music performers. “This, of course, is a prediction of the rise of Destiny’s Child,” Mauricio said, emphasizing that the song “Say My Name” now had a new resonance for her.

Beyonce, who performed in Lima in 2010, could not be reached for comment. Among the questions she was asked in an email was whether she had ever been to Huaca Yolanda.