Archaeologists in Peru have discovered the 5,000-year-old remains of an upper-class woman from the ancient Caral civilization, offering new insight into the influential roles women may have held in early American societies.
The find was made in Aspero, a ceremonial zone within the ancient city of Caral, located roughly 180 kilometers north of Lima. The remains, dating back to approximately 3,000 BC, were remarkably well-preserved—featuring remnants of skin, hair, and nails.
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The woman was carefully wrapped in a textile shroud and covered with a colorful mantle made from macaw feathers, suggesting she was part of Caral’s elite. Her burial site also included a toucan beak, a stone bowl, and a straw basket—items often associated with high social status.
According to archaeologist David Palomino, the discovery is crucial because it implies that women in Caral society may have occupied powerful and respected positions, challenging earlier assumptions that leadership was primarily male-dominated.
The Caral civilization, which thrived around the same era as ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia, is the oldest known civilization in the Americas and evolved in isolation. Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2009, Caral continues to reveal important historical and cultural information about early human settlements in the region.
