Peruvian and US archaeologists discovered a well-preserved mummy from the pre-columbian Moche civilization at the ancient site of El Brujo on the coast of northern Peru, near Trujillo. Jugged from the special burial items, the mummy partially tatooed might once have been a queen.
Her body was wrapped in hundreds of meters (yards) of cotton cloth, and near where it was found lay the skeleton of a youth offered in sacrifice with a rope still around its neck.Link
Jewelry made of semi-precious gemstones and fine gold was also found at the site, as were other objects like gold sewing needles and raw cotton.
The archaeologists were surprised to find buried with the mummy two ceremonial war clubs and 23 spear throwing implements, normally found only in the graves of Moche men.
"Perhaps she was a female warrior, or maybe the war clubs and spear throwers were symbols of power that were funeral gifts from men," said John Verano, a physical anthropologist from Tulane University in the United States.
Tags: peru, mummy, moche, archaeologist, female, symbol, power, queen
