17 June 2025 The Future is the Product of the Past

5,000-Year-Old Burial of High-Status Woman with Feathered Mantle Unearthed in Ancient Caral

Archaeologists in Peru have announced the remarkable discovery of a 5,000-year-old burial of a woman of high social standing at the Áspero archaeological site. Áspero, an ancient fishing settlement, was a significant satellite city within the Caral civilization, the oldest known civilization in the Americas. The well-preserved remains, unearthed by Dr. Ruth Shady Solís and her team from the Caral Archaeological Zone (ZAC), offer unprecedented insights into the influential roles women held in early Andean society.

The burial site, located at Huaca de los Ídolos within the ancient fishing settlement of Áspero, is approximately 180 kilometers north of Lima. Áspero was a key satellite city of Caral, which thrived from 3000 to 1800 BC, contemporaneous with ancient Egypt, Sumer, and China, yet developed in isolation. The remains belong to a woman estimated to be between 20 and 35 years old and approximately 1.5 meters (5 feet) tall. Notably, the state of preservation is exceptional, with parts of her skin, nails, and hair recovered—an uncommon occurrence for human remains in the region.

The woman was found wrapped in multiple layers of cotton fabric and rush mats, adorned with an embroidered feather mantle made from vibrant macaw feathers, showcasing one of the oldest examples of Andean featherwork. Accompanying her were a rich array of funerary offerings, including intricately crafted vessels, weaving tools, a bone needle, a shell likely from the Amazon basin, and over thirty sweet potatoes. These items not only highlight her elevated social status but also reflect the advanced trade networks of the Caral society, which extended as far as the Amazon.

According to an official statement from the Peruvian State, the discovery of the feathered panel and other finely crafted objects indicates a high level of specialized techniques during the Caral civilization. The feather artwork, in particular, underscores the aesthetic and symbolic sophistication achieved by this ancient society.


An ancient artifact found in a recently discovered burial site at the Aspero archaeological complex, belonging to the Caral civilization, during a press presentation at the Ministry of Culture in Lima on April 24, 2025.  Credit: Ministry of Culture of Peru (Ministerio de Cultura del Perú)
An ancient artifact found in a recently discovered burial site at the Aspero archaeological complex, belonging to the Caral civilization, during a press presentation at the Ministry of Culture in Lima on April 24, 2025. Credit: Ministry of Culture of Peru (Ministerio de Cultura del Perú)

Archaeologists have noted that this burial aligns with other elite burials found at Áspero in recent years, such as the “Lady of the Four Tupus” and the “Elite Man,” suggesting a pattern of ceremonial burials among the elite class. This evidence supports the hypothesis that women held special status and power in Caral society.

A multidisciplinary team is currently analyzing the remains and associated artifacts to gain further insights into the woman’s health, diet, cause of death, and the sociocultural significance of the objects buried with her. Archaeologist David Palomino emphasized that this discovery challenges the traditional view that rulers were predominantly male, highlighting the important roles women played in the Caral civilization.

The city of Caral, situated in the fertile Supe Valley and declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2009, continues to provide invaluable insights into the lives of its ancient inhabitants, revealing a complex society where women were integral to its development and cultural richness.

Ministerio de Cultura de Perú

Cover Image Credit: Remains of a 5000-year-old woman from the Caral civilization. Credit: Ministry of Culture of Peru (Ministerio de Cultura del Perú)

Related Articles

1,300-year-old shipwreck found in southwest France

19 June 2022

19 June 2022

Archeologists in France have discovered the wreck of a ship that navigated the Garonne river in southwestern France in the...

Roman soldier’s 1,900-year-old payslip uncovered in Masada

16 February 2023

16 February 2023

During excavations at Masada, archaeologists from the Israel Antiquities (IAA) uncovered a papyrus payslip dated to 72 BC belonging to...

Possible Location of Medieval Knight Zbylut’s Manor Identified Alongside Discovery of Unknown Burial Crypts

26 April 2025

26 April 2025

In a remarkable archaeological find, researchers have uncovered previously unknown burial crypts within the Gothic Church of St. James the...

Oldest prayer beads made from salmon vertebrae found on England’s Holy island

28 June 2022

28 June 2022

On the island of Lindisfarne, just off the coast of Northumberland, known in England as the “Holy Island“, archaeologists have...

4,500-year-old rare Canaanite goddess sculpture found by a farmer in Gaza Strip

25 April 2022

25 April 2022

A farmer in the city of Khan Yunis, in the southern Gaza Strip, found a rare 4,500-year-old stone sculpture while...

The discovery that surprised archaeologists; a Rare glass cup adorning the table of rich Romans in Crimea

2 April 2022

2 April 2022

A discovery made in Frontovoye-3 necropolis in Crimea shows that during the Roman Empire there were more centers of glass...

Huge ancient stone murals discovered in central China: “It is an important discovery that enriches and rewrites the art history of the Song Dynasty”

10 October 2022

10 October 2022

Two stone murals from the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127) have been discovered in Henan Province, central China, and are the...

73 intact Wari mummy bundles and Carved Masks Placed On False Heads Discovered In Peru

1 December 2023

1 December 2023

At Pachacámac, an archaeological site southeast of Lima in Peru, archaeologists unearthed bundles of 73 intact mummy bundles, some containing...

A Rock-Cut Temple and Inscriptions from the Neolithic period discovered in Saudi Arabia

6 August 2022

6 August 2022

In a project led by the Saudi Heritage Commission, a multinational team of archaeologists has discovered an 8,000-year-old archaeological site...

Do Byzantine coins Record the Supernova of 1054?

25 June 2022

25 June 2022

SN 1054 was one of the most spectacular astronomical events of all time. The supernova explosion eventually formed what is...

Ancient ‘Cancer-Treating’ Magical Amulet Discovered in Türkiye’s Antioch of Pisidia

30 December 2024

30 December 2024

An intriguing artifact was discovered during excavations in the ancient city of Pisidia Antioch in Isparta province in western Türkiye:...

Italian Versailles being returned to its former glory through

17 May 2023

17 May 2023

The Italian Royal Palace of Caserta, a long-neglected near Naples, is being restored to its former glory through a vast...

Swiss Scientists Identify Arrowhead Made from a Meteoritic Iron

1 August 2023

1 August 2023

In a recent study of archaeological collections in the Lake Biel region in Switzerland, an arrowhead from the Bronze Age,...

Metal Detectorist Finds on 4,000-year-old Dagger in Poland Forests

24 February 2024

24 February 2024

A copper dagger more than 4,000 years old was found in a forest near the town of Jarosław on the...

The ancient city of Kastabala will soon have a colonnaded Street

4 September 2021

4 September 2021

The archaeological excavation of the ancient city of Kastabala in Osmaniye Province in southern Turkey continues. Kastabala-Hierapolis is one of...