Lady of Cao

E521975

The Lady of Cao is an ancient Moche noblewoman and priestess whose remarkably well-preserved, tattooed mummy—found in northern Peru—has provided key insights into the role of elite women in pre-Columbian Andean society.

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Statements (59)

Predicate Object
instanceOf Moche noblewoman
archaeological discovery
mummy
ageAtDeath approximately 20 to 30 years
alsoKnownAs Dama de Cao NERFINISHED
approximateDate 4th century CE
circa 300 CE
associatedWith Moche religion NERFINISHED
Moche ritual practices
bodyPreservation mummified
burialSite Huaca Cao Viejo NERFINISHED
burialStructure adobe pyramid
causeOfDeath unknown
civilization Moche civilization NERFINISHED
conservationMethod controlled-environment display case
country Peru
countryOfMuseum Peru NERFINISHED
culture Moche culture NERFINISHED
discoveredBy Peruvian archaeologists
Regulo Franco Jordán NERFINISHED
discoveredIn 2005
exhibitedAt Museo Cao NERFINISHED
foundAt El Brujo archaeological complex NERFINISHED
foundInRegion La Libertad Region NERFINISHED
foundInValley Chicama Valley NERFINISHED
foundNear Magdalena de Cao NERFINISHED
gender female
graveGoods ceremonial weapons
earspools
headdresses
nose ornaments
ornaments of gold
ornaments of silver
textiles
interpretedAs possible female ruler
locatedIn northern Peru
museumLocation El Brujo Archaeological Complex Museum NERFINISHED
name Lady of Cao NERFINISHED
notableFeature elaborate funerary garments
rich grave goods
well-preserved tattoos
period Early Intermediate Period NERFINISHED
researchImportance study of Moche iconography
study of ancient Andean tattooing
study of pre-Columbian political power structures
role priestess
significance evidence of high-status women in Moche society
insight into pre-Columbian Andean gender roles
socialStatus elite
noblewoman
tattooLocation ankles
arms
feet
hands
tattooMotifs crabs
felines
geometric designs
snakes
spiders

Referenced by (2)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

El Brujo discovered Lady of Cao
El Brujo exhibits Lady of Cao
subject surface form: Museo Cao