Topic: History - Blog Posts

Ancient Moche Female Ruler Is Given A Face

We do not know what she called herself, but today she is known as the Lady of Cao. She lived and died in northern Peru 1,700 years ago. We know she was a high-status woman of the Moche culture, because she was buried in a tomb in a pyramid, with a crown and surrounded by gold and copper artifacts. The tomb also suggests that Lady of Cao may have been a warrior: she was buried a number of weapons, including two massive war clubs, and twenty-three spear-throwers!

Modern science has revealed that the Lady of Cao was in her twenties when she died, likely of childbirth or complications following childbirth.  Her feet, legs and face were tattooed with magic symbols of serpents and spiders. And now, science has revealed to us her face.