Peru: Tomb and funerary offering of elite woman discovered in ancient Caral civilization

17:00 | Lima, Apr. 24.

A complete funerary offering, which signifies the burial of a woman from the Caral elite, is part of an archaeological discovery made in Aspero, a fishing locality that was part of this ancient civilization.

This offering was presented at a press conference held at the Ministry of Culture on Thursday. It was led by Caral Archaeological Zone Director, Ruth Shady, and attended by the archaeological researchers responsible for the discovery.

The finding took place at the Huaca de los Idolos, located within the archaeological site of Aspero, in Supe and Supe Puerto districts, Barranca province, Lima region.

Before archaeological work began, this place was used as a municipal landfill for solid waste.

According to preliminary bioanthropological analyses, the recovered human remains are believed to have belonged to a woman between 20 and 35 years old.

Elite woman

The characteristics of the offerings and the funerary treatment indicate that this lady was a person of high social rank.

Aspects related to her health, death, and diet are currently being studied by a multidisciplinary team.

Being surrounded by offerings and presenting an object decorated with feathers also demonstrates a very high level of skill in the processing of this funerary attire.

In addition, the body found shows an unusual preservation of skin, hair, and nails, a condition rarely seen in this place, where only skeletal remains are usually recovered.

The body was wrapped in various materials: cotton textiles, reed mats, and a feathered textile adorned with macaw feathers arranged in a net over the mats. On top of the head, they placed a fiber headdress with bundles of twisted threads.

As part of the offering, in the lower section, they placed four reed baskets, a needle with engraved designs, a shell from the Amazonian snail, a toucan beak with inlays of green and brown beads, a wool textile, a fishing net, about 30 sweet potatoes, and weaving tools, among other objects.

In the upper space, they deposited three gourd vessels shaped like bottles and another basket over a cattail mat.

Likewise, 22 architectural complexes have been identified in Aspero. These reveal the social organization of its inhabitants during the period of formation and development of the Caral Civilization.

Aspero Raymi 2025

At the conference, it was also announced that, to celebrate 20 years of research, the Caral Archaeological Zone has organized Aspero Raymi 2025.

This event will take place on Friday, May 2, and Saturday, May 3.

It will include various activities aimed at strengthening cultural identity, promoting a connection with archaeological heritage, and transmitting the social and cultural values of the Caral Civilization.

(END) FGM/MAO/JMP/MVB

Published: 4/24/2025

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Peru: Tomb and funerary offering of elite woman discovered in ancient Caral civilization

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