El Brujo Archaeological Complex
Complejo Arqueológico El Brujo
Peru · La Libertad
In brief
El Brujo contains settlement and ceremonial remains from different periods in the Chicama Valley. The Lady of Cao and associated burials found during excavations at Huaca Cao Viejo have provided important data for studying social relationships among the Moche elite.
What was found?
- 1Preserved remains of the Lady of Cao
Tattoos on the forearms, hands and feet have survived on her mummified body. These remains provide an opportunity to study body decoration in Moche society directly.
- 2Crowns and ceremonial maces
Crowns, diadems and maces were found within the burial wrapping. According to researchers, these symbols of power indicate the Lady of Cao's high social standing.
- 3Metal nose ornaments
Animals and mythological beings are depicted on nose ornaments made of gold, silver and copper. They document both metalworking and the Moche symbolic world.
- 4Huaca Cao Viejo reliefs
The building's walls feature polychrome reliefs depicting warriors, captives, animals and mythological beings. They reveal the visual narratives of ceremonial spaces.
What does it point to?
The grave goods show that elite status in Moche society was expressed through elaborate clothing and metal symbols. According to researchers, the Lady of Cao's belongings and ceremonial depictions indicate a close relationship between social authority and religious roles.
What did it teach us?
- Documented that a Moche woman was buried with symbols of power indicating high status.
- The preserved tattoos showed that Moche iconography was used on the human body as well as on objects and walls.
- The grave goods revealed that textiles and metalwork were used together in elite funerary ceremonies.
Images
Latest news / selected archive
An ancient DNA study published online in late 2024 identified close family relationships within the elite burial group at Huaca Cao Viejo.
Record
- Culture
- Moche; Lambayeque; Chimú
- Team / historical
- Wiese Foundation; Augusto Bazán Pérez
- Coordinates
- -7.9150°, -79.3055°
Sources
- elbrujo.pe
- cdn.www.gob.pe
- en.wikipedia.org
- pnas.org
- El Brujo Arkeoloji Kompleksi — Cao Hanımı'nın mezar sargılarının açılması
- El Brujo Arkeoloji Kompleksi — Cao Hanımı'nın tarihi ve rolleri
- El Brujo Arkeoloji Kompleksi — Huaca Cao Viejo
Nearby excavations
- Chan Chan 33 km
- Huaca de la Luna 42 km
- Huaca Rajada-Sipán 128 km
- Chankillo Archaeoastronomical Complex 217 km
- Chavín de Huántar 299 km
- Sacred City of Caral-Supe 385 km
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- 12.000
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Arkeofili ↗ · Excavation notebook
All excavation sites (395)
Türkiye
- Acemhöyük
- Aizanoi
- Alabanda
- Alacahöyük
- Amos
- Ani
- Aphrodisias
- Arslantepe Mound
- Aspendos
- Assos
- Ayanis Fortress
- Aşıklı Höyük
- Barcın Höyük
- Blaundus
- Boncuklu Höyük
- Can Hasan I
- Carchemish
- Claros Sanctuary
- Clazomenae
- Domuztepe
- Ephesus
- Euromus
- Gordion
- Göbekli Tepe
- Hadrianopolis in Paphlagonia
- Hattusha
- Hierapolis
- Iasos
- Kaman-Kalehöyük
- Karahantepe
- Karatepe-Aslantaş
- Kaunos
- Kibyra
- Knidos
- Kültepe-Kanesh
- Laodicea on the Lycus
- Letoon Sanctuary
- Limyra
- Magnesia on the Maeander
- Medieval City of Beçin
- Metropolis in Ionia
- Miletus
- Myra
- Nemrut Dağ
- Nysa on the Maeander
- Olympus in Lycia
- Oymaağaç Höyük — Nerik
- Patara
- Pergamon
- Perge
- Phaselis
- Priene
- Sagalassos
- Sanctuary of Apollo at Didyma
- Sanctuary of Labraunda
- Sapinuwa
- Sardis
- Sayburç
- Side
- Stratonikeia
- Tell Atchana – Alalakh
- Teos
- Tripolis on the Meander
- Troy
- Uluburun Shipwreck
- Xanthos
- Yenikapı – Theodosian Harbour Excavations
- Yeşilova Höyük
- Yumuktepe
- Zerzevan Castle
- Zeugma
- Zincirli Höyük — Sam'al
- Çatalhöyük
- Çavuştepe Fortress
- Çayönü
- Çukuriçi Höyük
