Moche Society WAS Run by Women

From PhysOrg

Tomb find confirms powerful women ruled Peru long ago

Aug 22, 2013 by Roberto Corti

Another tomb of a female "priestess" and the conclusions being drawn from this, the eighth such tomb to be found (but no burials of high-ranking men), have lead the archaeologists toward the conclusion that powerful women did, indeed, rule in Mocha (Mochica) society, in pre-Columbia Peru, about 1200 CE. I wasn't able to copy any of the text here, please read the entire article and check out the photos at the link:

 

 

Peruvian King of Bling

Article from the National Geographic News: "King of Bling" Tomb Sheds Light on Ancient Peru Kelly Hearn and Ted Chamberlainfor National Geographic News April 10, 2009 Image: Found in a treasure-filled tomb of the Moche culture in Peru in June 2008, this 1,500-year-old gilded-copper-and-seashell funerary mask was one of two that shielded the face of the so-called Lord of Ucupe. As in his tomb, the Lord of Ucupe in life would have been covered nearly head to toe in shining metal, so as to dazzle and distract his subjects—"This is the king of bling, literally," one archaeologist says.Photograph courtesy Dr. Steve Bourget Packed with treasure in the styles of two ancient orders, the 1,500-year-old tomb of the Moche Indian "king of bling" is like no other, according to archaeologist Steve Bourget. Discovered in Peru at the base of an eroded mud-brick pyramid, the tomb gradually yielded its contents last summer. Among the finds: 19 golden headdresses, various pieces of jewelry, and two funerary masks, as well as skeletons of two other men and a pregnant woman. (View photographs of the Moche find.) The tomb's mysterious contents and location—far from known Moche capitals—could shed new light on this little-known culture of Peru's arid northern coast, said Bourget, of the University of Texas at Austin. Thriving between A.D. 100 and 800, the highly agricultural Moche Indians are known in large part by their stepped pyramids, jewelry-filled tombs, and exquisite pottery and art. (See related pictures of Moche tombs from National Geographic magazine.) Lord of Ucupe Located some 475 miles (750 kilometers) north of Lima, the new-found tomb was found at the base of Huaca el Pueblo, a mud-brick, stepped pyramid that has eroded into a high, round mound. The Lord of Ucupe—as locals have come to call the entombed Moche leader—was in his early thirties when he died, Bourget said. For entombment, the lord was dressed in full regalia—and then some. His body was covered with a tunic and train of tiny gilded copper plates, and his face was covered with two funerary masks—a first, according to Bourget. A necklace of four-inch (ten-centimeter), disk-shaped silver rattles encircled his neck. On his head was a gilded crown. Six more crowns and ten V-shaped headdresses called diadems were arrayed on top of his body. Still another diadem was folded in half and placed atop six metal war clubs to serve as a mat for his lifeless body. The Lord of Ucupe was then wrapped in a large bundle made of reed and textile, along with artifacts suggestive of political status, said Bourget, who co-led the team that found the tomb with Bruno Alva of the Museum Tumbas Reales de Sipán. Rest of article.

Mysterious Pyramid Complex Discovered In Peru

From National Geographic: Kelly Hearn in Buenos Aires, Argentina for National Geographic News February 20, 2008 The remnants of at least ten pyramids have been discovered on the coast of Peru, marking what could be a vast ceremonial site of an ancient, little-known culture, archaeologists say. In January construction crews working in the province of Piura discovered several truncated pyramids and a large adobe platform (see map). Officials from Peru's National Institute of Culture (INC) were dispatched to inspect the discovery. Last week they announced that the complex, which is 2 miles (3.2 kilometers) long and 1 mile (1.6 kilometers) wide, belonged to the ancient Vicús culture and was likely either a religious center or a cemetery for nobility. The Vicús was a pre-Hispanic civilization that flourished in Peru's northern coastal desert from 200 B.C to 300 A.D. and is known for its decorated ceramics. Experts say little is known about the culture, because its sites have been heavily looted over the years. "We found several partial pyramids, at least ten," said César Santos Sánchez, chief archaeologist for INC's Piura division. "We also found a large adobe platform that we speculate could have been used for burial rituals. But we cannot know without further testing." Skull Fragments The platform, measuring 82 feet (25 meters) by 98 feet (30 meters), was found alongside one of the larger pyramids in the complex. Another of the larger pyramids contained some artifacts as well as bone fragments from a human skull. The fact that the skull fragments were found several meters below the surface, indicating a deep grave that took much time to dig, prompted researchers to theorize that the individual buried there had high social status. Santos added that the complex is surrounded by four large hills: Pilán, Vicús, Chanchape, and Tongo. "We think that because of its geographic location the complex could have been a place of strategic value," Santos said. The area containing the pyramids is surrounded by a cemetery that has been looted by grave robbers. "But the complex itself is intact," Santos said. Who Were the Vicús? "The Vicús are very interesting but so poorly understood, given that most of what we know about them is through looted ceramic art," said Steve Bourget, an archaeologist at the University of Texas at Austin. "This could be an important find, because it is one of the few with monumental architecture. But it is too soon to tell." Experts say the Vicús ceramic style is similar in some respects to that of the Moche, a fact that has spawned research on the relationship between the two cultures. The Moche civilization flourished in areas south of the Vicús from around A.D. 100 to 750, producing intricately painted pottery as well as gold ornaments, irrigation systems, and monuments. The two cultures thrived within a relatively short distance of each other—less than that between Los Angeles and San Francisco—experts point out. "It is possible that the Vicús for part of its history was closely affiliated with the Moche culture," said Joanne Pillsbury, an archaeologist at the Washington, D.C.-based Dumbarton Oaks, a research institute affiliated with Harvard University. The discovery of the Vicús pyramids comes as perceptions about the Moche have shifted, she added. "It was once thought that Moche was a single monolithic state, but people don't think that is true anymore," Pillsbury said. "It was likely a series of regional or multi-valley kingdoms that shared a broader culture. And Vicús was probably part of that sphere of interaction."