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Recent archaeological findings in Peru have unveiled the 5,000-year-old remains of a noblewoman in the ancient city of Caral. This discovery sheds light on the significant roles women held in one of the earliest known civilizations in the Americas.
According to archaeologist David Palomino, the remains likely belong to an elite woman, highlighting her elevated social status. The burial site, located in Aspero—a sacred area within Caral—had been used as a garbage dump for over three decades before its transition to an archaeological site in the 1990s.
The well-preserved remains, which date back to approximately 3000 BC, include skin, hair, and part of the nails, indicating a rare preservation state for this region where typically only skeletal remains are found. Wrapped in a layered shroud fabricated from fabric and adorned with a mantle of macaw feathers, the finds are remarkable.
The funerary items discovered alongside the remains were showcased at a press event by the culture ministry and feature intriguing artifacts like a toucan’s beak, a stone bowl, and a straw basket.
Peru’s culture ministry emphasized the extraordinary nature of this burial due to the exceptional preservation of organic materials. As noted in their news release, such conditions are rare in this archaeological area.
Initial analysis suggests that the woman was between 20 and 35 years old, standing approximately 5 feet tall. She wore a headdress made of twisted thread bundles, further symbolizing her esteemed position within society.
Palomino remarked that while historical assumptions often positioned men as the primary rulers or influential figures, this discovery underscores the vital contributions women made to Caral civilization.
Caral, which flourished from 3000 to 1800 BC, coexisted with prominent ancient societies in regions such as Mesopotamia, Egypt, and China. It is located in the fertile Supe Valley, about 115 miles north of Lima and 12 miles from the Pacific coastline.
The UNESCO World Heritage Site designation was granted to Caral in 2009. This recent discovery complements previous findings in Áspero, including notable burials like the “Lady of the Four Tupus” in 2016 and an “Elite Male” in 2019. Additionally, researchers have recently uncovered an ancient tomb in southern Peru, believed to contain the remains of around two dozen individuals who perished in battle.
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