Archaeologists in Peru have unearthed the throne room of a powerful queen from the Moche culture.
Peruvian archaeologists have discovered a 1,300-year-old throne room adorned with murals depicting the Moche queen, although they have not yet found her remains.
A woman sitting on the throne converses with a half-human, half-bird figure. (Photo: Lisa Trever).
This throne room, discovered at the Pañamarca archaeological site, dates back to the seventh century AD, a period when the Moche were thriving in the region, according to archaeologists. The Moche flourished in northern Peru from around 350 to 850 AD and were renowned for their complex architecture and tombs, as well as intricate artworks like pottery depicting human faces. They were present in the area long before writing was used in Peru.
While many other queens ruled pre-Inca Peru, no throne room dedicated to a queen has been found in Pañamarca or anywhere else in ancient Peru. The throne was made of clay and contained remnants of green stones and human hair. The hair may belong to the queen, and researchers plan to conduct DNA testing.
Remnants of the clay throne found at the Pañamarca archaeological site in Peru. (Photo: Lisa Trever).
The murals depicting the ruler were found on the pillars and walls of the throne room, and even on the throne itself. They portray the queen in various ways. One mural shows the queen wearing a crown and raising a cup. Another depicts her holding a scepter, surrounded by a procession of men bringing textiles and other offerings to her. Yet another mural shows her seated on the throne, conversing with a half-human, half-bird being.
In Moche culture, it was not uncommon for women to become rulers. “Female leaders were not rare in ancient Moche society or in the subsequent northern Peruvian dynasties,” researcher Koons stated. She added that much of the evidence regarding female rulers comes from tombs. Among these is the “Señora de Cao,” the tomb of a Moche female mummy buried with exquisite jewelry, adornments, and weapons, including tools designed for throwing spears and darts further.
