Archaeologists Find 5,000-Year-Old Caral Elite Women's Grave In Peru

JAKARTA - Archaeologists on the coast of Peru found the remains of a 5,000-year-old woman who may have come from circles over ancient Caral civilizations, the findings showed the importance of women in the city about five thousand years earlier.

Caral, located about 180 km (112 miles) on the Pacific coast of Lima, is considered America's oldest city and may be inhabited at the same time as ancient Egyptian, Chinese and Sumerian civilizations, although unlike those civilizations, researchers say the city is developing in total isolation.

Aspero, the area on the Caral site where the tomb was found, was previously used as a city waste disposal site.

"This is an important funeral because it has elements that match women with high status," archaeologist David Palomino told Reuters.

The woman's body, which is thought to have died at the age of about 20 to 35, was found in a blue and brown fur coat that may have come from Amazon birds such as macaw birds, he said, adding the tomb was surrounded by baskets filled with offerings, vas, labus and toucan bird beaks.

Palomino said the findings showed "not only men who have important relationships in this civilization, but also complement each other with women."

Although the researchers did not know the exact date of the burial, the Caral civilization was active at around 3,000 BC.