Scientists reveal the appearance of the throne room of an ancient ruler in Peru (photos).

A throne room has recently been discovered in Peru, believed to have belonged to a female ruler. While the high status of women in pre-Columbian cultures of Latin America is not uncommon, this finding serves as one of the earliest substantial pieces of evidence.

The throne room, found in the archaeological complex of Panyamarca (Ancash, Peru), dates back approximately 1300 years. More detailed coverage of this discovery was provided by the publication ZME.

This finding is part of the heritage of the Moche civilization (or Mochica), which thrived from 350 to 850 AD. Although they left no written records, archaeologists have uncovered numerous murals in temples and burial complexes, allowing for some insights into the daily life of this people.

The throne room, or "Hall of Moche Imagination," is a unique discovery, the first of its kind. In particular, one of the frescoes depicts a woman interacting with a creature that has both bird and human features. In another fresco, she is surrounded by men carrying her crown and other items.

Due to the absence of written language among this people, we unfortunately cannot say who this woman was or even what her name might have been.

The complex itself was discovered in the 1950s, with the throne room first unveiled in September 2024. Excavation work is ongoing, and researchers report new finds of frescoes or other structures from the massive complex almost every month.

"Panyamarca was a site of unprecedented creativity. It seems that with each season, this perspective becomes even more accurate," said Columbia University professor Lisa Trever.

It is worth noting that women traditionally played significant roles in the lives of pre-Columbian civilizations, with the earliest hints of this dating back to the Caral culture (3000-1800 BC), which also inhabited what is now Peru. Discoveries from that time include female skeletons accompanied by rich burial artifacts, which may indicate their high status.

Similar findings have also been made among the burials of the Olmec, Paracas, and Chavín cultures, which existed before our era. However, it is the aforementioned discovery from the Moche culture that portrays a woman not only as a priestess but also as a ruler.

What is known about the Moche is that they engaged in active agriculture, creating complex irrigation systems. They also had advanced pottery and metallurgy, working with not only copper but also silver and gold.

Among their cultural and religious practices, human sacrifices were common in addition to complex rituals. This was likely aimed at attempting to invoke rain during dry years. The exact cause of their disappearance remains unknown, but scientists do not rule out that climate change may have contributed to the downfall of the Moche.

As previously reported, a burial site in Hungary has been discovered containing the remains of a woman with weapons. Archaeologists suggest that she may have been involved in military affairs.