Archaeologists excavating the ruins of Aspero uncovered the burial of an elite woman and a collection of colorful burial goods made from toucan beaks and macaw feathers.
What Did Researchers Discover?
Researchers estimate the woman lived between 3000 and 1800 B.C. in Aspero, a city about 700 meters from the Pacific Ocean.
The Peruvian Ministry of Culture, which oversaw the excavations, reported that the woman’s body was wrapped in several materials, including cotton fabrics, bundles of plant fibers, mats, and nets. The ministry said the woman’s identity remains unknown, but she likely held a prominent social position during her lifetime. Archaeologists were surprised at how well preserved her skin, hair, and nails were. Previously, human remains from this area were typically found as bones only.
Officials estimate the woman died between the ages of 20 and 35. She was buried with a remarkably diverse set of grave goods that confirmed her high status: an embroidered decorative piece made with macaw feathers, a toucan beak inlaid with green and brown beads, a shell from an Amazonian snail, and dozens of sweet potatoes.
She lived during the era of the Caral civilization, also called Caral-Supe, which flourished in the region. The civilization is named for the sacred city of Caral-Supe, a UNESCO World Heritage site that covered 526 hectares in the Supe River valley and featured numerous pyramids and temples. The Caral civilization introduced urban living to the area, Live Science reported.
The ministry’s statement said that at the height of the Caral civilization, and during the woman’s lifetime, Aspero contained at least 22 architectural complexes, and its inhabitants likely engaged in fishing and trade.
Archaeologists have suggested that women in the Caral civilization could hold high social status. In 2016, researchers unearthed another high-status burial in Aspero: the remains of a woman buried with several items, including four brooches carved in the shapes of birds and monkeys. They nicknamed that individual the “Lady of the Four Tupu,” after the Quechua word tupu for “brooch.” The items buried with her also signaled her special position in society. Descendants of the Quechua people now live across Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, Chile, Colombia, and Argentina.
Archaeologists are now analyzing this new find. The burial artifacts may help researchers learn more about how the woman lived and died. Excavations in Aspero have been ongoing for 20 years, and archaeologists hope further discoveries await.
