Archaeologists Found Remains of a 'High-Status Woman’ Buried 5,000 Years Ago in Peru

Ancient Remains Found at Former Dump Site

A 5,000-year-old set of remains believed to belong to a ‘high-status’ woman from the ancient Caral civilization was found by archaeologists in Peru.

CBS News reported that the remains were discovered in Áspero, a sacred area within Caral, around 180 kilometers up the Pacific coast from Lima.

Aspero. Photo for illustration purposes only. Via TripAdvisor

The woman’s burial site was discovered in an area that had served as a garbage dump for years before it became an active archaeological site in the 90s.

What Is the Caral Civilization?

Known as the Sacred City of Caral-Supe, the Caral civilization is the earliest recognized civilization in the Americas. According to UNESCO World Heritage, Caral is believed to have existed between 3000 and 1800 BCE (Before the Common Era).

Located in Peru’s Supe Valley, Caral is known for its large platform mounds, which show early signs of complex urban life and ceremonial practices.

For illustration purposes only. Structures of the platform mounds at Caral via Wikipedia

Details About the Woman and the Burial

The woman was believed to be between 20 and 35 years old at the time of her death.

Standing at about five feet tall, she was carefully buried, wrapped in multiple layers of fabric, and covered with a mantle made of blue and brown macaw feathers.

“This is an important burial because it has elements that correspond to a woman of high status,” archaeologist David Palomino said, according to Reuters.

What made the discovery stand out was how well-preserved the remains were. Parts of her skin, nails, and hair were still intact, a rare occurrence now, where remains are typically just skeletal.

Offerings and Cultural Significance

Baskets, gourds, stone bowls, a toucan’s beak, a snail shell, a fishing net, and a headdress made from twisted threads were just some of the burial offerings found beside the woman’s body.

It is noted in a press release that these items suggest she held a high social status.

The Caral site, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2009, continues to provide valuable information about early human history.

Featured images courtesy of video from Reuters.

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Archaeologists in Peru have found a body that could be 5000-years-old. They think she could be an ‘elite’ woman belonging to the ancient Caral civilisation. That is one of the oldest civilisations in South America which lived between 3000 BC to 1800 BC. #Peru #Caral #Archaeology #C4News #Channel4News

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