Lima: Archaeologists in coastal Peru have uncovered the remarkably well-preserved remains of a woman believed to have belonged to the elite class of the ancient Caral civilization—considered the oldest known city in the Americas. The discovery offers new insight into the elevated role of women in early Andean societies some 5,000 years ago.
The burial site was found at Aspero, an archaeological zone within the Caral complex, approximately 180 kilometers (112 miles) north of Lima. Today recognized as the cradle of civilization in the Americas, Caral developed contemporaneously with the ancient societies of Egypt, Mesopotamia, and China—yet emerged in isolation, without influence from those civilizations, according to researchers.
Remarkably, the site where the tomb was found had previously served as a municipal dump, masking the historic treasures hidden beneath.
Archaeologists in Peru have discovered the 5,000-year-old remains of a woman who may have belonged to the upper echelons of the ancient Caral civilization, a find they say points to the importance of women in the city some five millennia earlier https://t.co/zWzQY8awH9 pic.twitter.com/UFVJeI3Bh5
— Reuters (@Reuters) April 25, 2025
“This is an important burial because it has elements that correspond to a woman of high status,” said archaeologist David Palomino, highlighting the ceremonial wrapping of the body and the rare preservation of the woman’s skin, hair, and nails.
The woman, estimated to have died between the ages of 20 and 35, was buried with a vibrant mantle of blue and brown feathers, likely sourced from Amazonian birds such as the macaw. Surrounding her were symbolic items including baskets with offerings, vases, gourds, and a toucan’s beak—further indicating her elevated social rank.
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Palomino emphasized that the finding disrupts traditional gender assumptions within early societies. “Not only men had an important association in this civilization, but this was also complementary with that of women,” he said.
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Although the precise date of the burial remains undetermined, the Caral civilization thrived around 3,000 B.C., long before the Inca Empire, leaving behind monumental architecture, intricate social structures, and now, new evidence of gender inclusion in leadership and ritual life.
