Ruth Shady facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ruth Shady
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Shady in 2014
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Ruth Martha Shady Solís
December 29, 1946 Callao, Peru
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| Occupation | Anthropologist and archaeologist |
| Known for | First extensive documentation of the Norte Chico civilization |
| Awards | BBC's 100 Women 2020 |
Ruth Martha Shady Solís (born December 29, 1946) is a famous Peruvian anthropologist and archaeologist. An anthropologist studies human societies and cultures, while an archaeologist studies human history by digging up ancient sites and artifacts. Shady is best known for her incredible work at the ancient city of Caral.
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Uncovering an Ancient Civilization
Throughout her career, Ruth Shady has led many archaeological projects across Peru's coast, mountains, and rainforests. She has always been interested in learning how ancient societies were organized.
Her most famous work began in 1994 at a site called Caral. There, she discovered and studied the Norte Chico civilization. This was a huge breakthrough because it proved to be the oldest known civilization in the Americas and one of the oldest in the entire world! Shady named the civilization "Caral," though it is often called "Norte Chico" in English.
The Lost City of Caral
In 2001, Shady and her team announced amazing news. Using a scientific method called radiocarbon dating, they found that the city of Caral was built between 2600 B.C. and 2000 B.C. This means the city is more than 4,500 years old!
Caral is a large ancient city that covers 65 hectares (about 160 acres). It has huge pyramids, buildings, and homes. It is one of 18 ancient sites found in the Supe Valley that were built by people who did not yet use pottery. This time period is called the Preceramic Period.
Leadership and Teaching
Besides her work at Caral, Shady has held many important positions. She was the director of the National Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology of Peru. She also teaches archaeology at the famous National University of San Marcos and continues to lead the archaeological project at Caral.
Awards and Recognition
Ruth Shady's important work has earned her many awards.
- 2007: She won the Esteban Campodónico Prize for her outstanding service to Peruvian society.
- 2018: She received the L'Oreal-UNESCO Peru National Prize for Women in Science.
- 2020: The BBC named her one of its 100 Women, a list of inspiring and influential women from around the world.
- 2021: The government of Peru awarded her the Order of Merit for Distinguished Services, one of the country's highest honors.
See also
In Spanish: Ruth Shady para niños
