Lime – A group of Peruvian archaeologists discovered among the remains of Caral civilization, the oldest in America, The burial of a high status woman, dated between 3,000 and 1,800 acwhich retains in good condition its body surrounded by numerous offerings, some of them arriving from the Amazon.
The burial was found in the site of the Huaca de los Idolos, within the rough archaeological site, an old fishing city belonging to the Cararal civilization, which is currently located in the north of the Lima region.
“This discovery is not only important for the history of Peru, but for the world, and to understand how Caral civilization has reached an important technological level,” the head of the rough headquarters of Caral Archaeological Zone, David Palomino, told Efe.
Preliminary bio -anthropological analysis, which are still being performed, indicate that The recovered human remains correspond to that of a woman who was between 20 and 35 years old, measured about five feet tall and carried a headdress in the head, which would indicate her high status.
The finding stands out for the unusual preservation of skin, hair and nails, a condition that archaeologists indicated that it is rare in placebecause the usual thing is to find only the bone remains.
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The experts of the Caral archaeological zone indicated that the body was wrapped by several layers of different tissues, such as cotton and reeds, and highlighted a mantle made with brown and cellast feathers of the Amazon macaws.
This object implies, in itself, another great discovery, since this feather fabric technique had not been found until several centuries later, in the Chimú and Inca culture.
Palomino added that this funeral context gives clues that the Cultural Caral not only developed an advanced fishing technology, but also handled manufacturing and artistic techniques.
Valuable offerings
In addition to the young woman’s body, the bundle contains numerous offerings, the one that most attracts attention is the peak of a tucán with 12 mineral stones of embedded green, which, together with the feather mantle, confirms the relationship that this coastal culture maintained with the jungle, located hundreds of kilometers.
Also, there was a snail accounts necklace, jacket woven baskets, sweet potato seeds (sweet potato), fan shells, quartz tips and a textile made of animal fiber, which investigate that it could be from a camelid.
He was accompanied by numerous ceramic vessels in various shapes and sizes, needles made with animal bonesfishing networks and a small lithic bowl with two perforations.
This impressive trousseau demonstrates that this person had great relevance in their society and confirms that in the Caral culture, women occupied important roles.
“The body shows that women in Caral civilization had relevance and a very important role, possibly of authorities, within the functions in the fishing city”Palomino added.
The director of the Caral Archaeological Zone, Ruth Shady, stressed that in 2025 they celebrate the 20th anniversary of the investigations in rough, the fishing city that was part of this civilization, which reached high levels of development that are still a mystery.