Archaeologists Discover 5,000-Year-Old Noblewoman's Remains in Peru

Archaeologists in Peru have uncovered the remarkably well-preserved 5,000-year-old remains of a high-status woman at Áspero, a fishing town of the ancient Caral civilization. The burial, found in the Huaca de los Ídolos temple, included rare preservation of hair, skin, and nails, and was accompanied by elaborate funerary offerings such as a macaw feather panel, a toucan beak, weaving tools, and Amazonian shells. Experts note that the inclusion of exotic items demonstrates Caral's extensive trade networks and advanced craftsmanship. The discovery provides substantial evidence that women held significant positions of power in Caral society, supporting theories of a comparatively egalitarian culture. This challenges previous assumptions that leadership roles in ancient Andean civilizations were dominated by men. The Caral civilization, which flourished between 3000 and 1800 BCE, is considered the oldest known complex society in the Americas, contemporaneous with ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia.