Archaeologists Unearth Tomb of Elite Woman From Ancient Caral Civilization

Peruvian archaeologists discovered an extraordinary burial site at the Áspero archaeological location, uncovering the remains of a high-ranking female member from the ancient Caral civilization, which dates back approximately 5,000 years. This find, located in December within the boundaries of what was once the fishing community of Áspero at the Huaca de los Ídolos site, offers valuable perspectives on the status and roles of women in this early society, as reported. Reuters .

Initial examinations suggest that the remains belong to a female who was around 20 to 35 years old and stood roughly 1.5 meters tall. The corpse was exceptionally well-preserved, retaining her skin, hair, and fingernails—an uncommon occurrence at this location, which usually yields just skeletal fragments. According to reports by Reuters, she was accompanied by a cloak made of blue and brown feathers, probably sourced from an Amazonian species like a macaw.

Cloaked in multiple layers of fabrics such as cotton and reeds, the lady adorned herself with a headpiece crafted from woven fibers containing clusters of intertwined strands, indicating her elevated position. Among the grave items were various provisions: Amazonian plumes, cotton clothings, earthenware containers, pins fashioned out of bone, fishnets, and a petite stone basin featuring dual holes. Particularly notable among these treasures was a tucan’s bill encrusted with twelve verdant gemstones, underscoring the enduring connection between the seaside civilization and the forest situated many miles inland.

David Palomino, who leads the research team at the Áspero site, stated, "This finding is significant not just for Peruvian history but also globally, as it helps us comprehend how the Caral civilization achieved such advanced technology." 20 Minutos .

The Caral culture thrived between 3000 and 1800 BCE, predating the Incan civilization by 45 centuries. Aspero, an early fishing town within the Caral domain, sits at the Huaca de los Idolos location, where excavations have been ongoing since 2005. People living in Aspéro primarily focused on maritime activities and participated in both local and distant trade networks, as indicated by artifacts originating from jungles and mountainous regions discovered among their grave goods.

This finding underscores the significant contributions made by women during the Caral civilization. According to Palomino, as cited by Reuters, "The remains indicate that women held substantial influence and an essential position—potentially even leadership roles—in the various activities carried out in this ancient fishing settlement."

The conservation of the body along with the type of offerings indicates that this woman likely possessed significant societal standing. The cloak crafted using brown and sky-blue feathers sourced from Amazonian macaws marks a groundbreaking find; the art of feather weaving was unknown for many more years before surfacing again among the Chimú and Inca civilizations.

The tomb was discovered during excavation work initiated in 1996 by Peruvian archaeologist Ruth Shady. The Caral civilization emerged in the arid highlands of Peru, located 182 kilometers north of Lima within the Supe Valley. This civilization coexisted with ancient Egyptian, Chinese, and Sumerian cultures; however, experts believe that Caral evolved independently without external influence.

"The discovery supports the notion of women’s significant contributions to the Caral civilization,” Palomino noted. “Most importantly, it shows that both men and women held crucially important and complementary roles within their society.”

This finding bolsters the presence of other high-status graves at Áspero, like the "Lady of the Four Tupus," discovered in 2016, and the " Elite Man," unearthed in 2019, thereby offering additional proof of a stratified societal organization within the Caral civilization.

The piece was composed with help from a news analysis tool.