5,000-Year-Old High-Status Woman Unearthed in Peru’s Ancient Caral Civilization

A major archaeological discovery was made on April 24 in Peru, where the remains of a woman dating back to approximately 5000 BCE were uncovered in the village of Aspero. This woman belonged to the Caral civilization, the oldest known in the Americas, and was likely a high-status figure, according to archaeologists led by David Palomino. Preliminary analyses suggest she was between 20 and 35 years old and stood 1.5 meters tall. Her body, discovered in an elaborate burial site, was wrapped in textiles and adorned with a cloak made from macaw feathers. Grave goods, including a toucan beak and a stone bowl, were also found. This discovery highlights the significant role of women in Caral society, which thrived contemporaneously with Mesopotamian and Egyptian civilizations and preceded the Inca civilization by several millennia.

Source: Europe 1