Lady of Cao facts for kids
.jpg)
The Lady of Cao is a famous ancient mummy from the Moche culture. She was found in Peru at a place called El Brujo. This site is about 45 kilometers north of Trujillo in the La Libertad Region. Her discovery was very important because it changed what we knew about the Moche people.
Finding the Lady of Cao
Archaeologists found the Lady of Cao in 2006. A team from Peru, led by Regulo Franco Jordan, made this amazing discovery. They had help from the Augusto N. Wiese Foundation.
The mummy was wrapped in many layers of cloth. She also had many tattoos on her body. Near her, the team found special items. These included weapons and beautiful jewelry. They also found the remains of another young woman. This second woman might have been a human sacrifice.
Scientists studied the Lady of Cao's body. They found she was in her mid-twenties when she died. She may have died from problems during pregnancy or childbirth. Experts believe she died around the year 450 CE.
Why the Lady of Cao is Important
The Lady of Cao's burial site was very rich. It had many valuable items. The presence of weapons also suggested something special. These clues made archaeologists think she was a very important person. She might have been a high-ranking priestess. She could even have been a Moche ruler. She might have governed the area now known as the Chicama District in northern Peru.
Before this discovery, people thought only men held high power in the Moche culture. The Lady of Cao's tomb showed that women could also be powerful leaders. Her discovery is as important as finding the Lord of Sipán. The Lord of Sipán was another major Moche archaeological find. Both discoveries teach us a lot about this ancient culture.
Recreating Her Face
On July 3, 2017, officials and archaeologists showed something amazing. They unveiled a replica of the Lady of Cao's face. This replica was made using special technology. They used 3D imaging and forensic archaeology. This means they used her skull structure to guess what her face looked like. They also studied Moche people to make it accurate. It took about 10 months to create her face.
