Medieval fantasy castle throne room with grey stone walls and oval window. 3D rendering. (Representative Cover Image Source: Getty Images | IanGoodPhotography)
Even after decades of excavations and studying ancient civilizations, much about them remains a mystery. Long before the rise of the Inca Empire, the Moche civilization thrived in Pañamarca, between 500 and 800 CE. This ancient society, located in what is now Peru, continues to provide valuable insights into pre-Incan history. In a recent excavation, archaeologists discovered an ornate throne, offering new evidence that women held positions of power in Moche society. This exciting find adds to the growing understanding of Peruvian history, shedding light on the complex social structures of this ancient civilization.
3D illustration fantasy throne room (Representative Image Source: Getty Images | Vac1)
This discovery challenges the long-standing belief that only men held positions of power in ancient times, as noted in a Pañamarca Digital press release. According to The Smithsonian, Peruvian and American researchers involved in the Archaeological Landscapes of Pañamarca research program have been investigating the ancient Moche site since 2018. Previous excavations revealed stunning, vibrant wall paintings illustrating priests, warriors in processions, supernatural battles, and ceremonial activities involving human captives. However, the recent discovery of a full-fledged throne room, potentially belonging to a powerful female ruler, marks a groundbreaking find. This is the first time evidence has pointed to a woman occupying such a prominent role in Moche society, further expanding our understanding of their complex social dynamics.
Queen victoria reading a statement. Vintage engraving circa late 19th century (Representative Image Source: Getty Images | Picture)
The 1,300-year-old throne room was discovered in what project director Jessica Ortiz Zevallos has named the “Hall of the Moche Imaginary.” Like other rooms, this room too is decorated with vibrant paintings that portray scenes of a woman seated on a similar throne receiving visitors, as well as images of a crown, the crescent moon, sea creatures, and a weaving workshop. This is unlike anything seen before anywhere in Peru. Plus, the recovery of greenstone beads, fine threads, and even human hair confirmed that the throne was occupied by a living person.
“There are several things that are very important regarding this wonderful discovery,” Gabriela Cervantes Quequezana, an archaeologist who isn't involved in the excavation, told The New York Times. “We’ve seen other representations of women in tombs, but not in the depth and complexity in the discoveries in Pañamarca." "Pañamarca continues to surprise us,” remarked Lisa Trever, professor of art history at Columbia University, in the press release, before adding, “not only for the ceaseless creativity of its painters but also because their works are overturning our expectations of gender roles in the ancient Moche world.” At the same time, scholars aren’t sure whether the woman in these paintings was a priestess, a mythical goddess, or a queen.
Meanwhile in #Peru researchers have uncovered a throne room that belonged to a ruler from more than 1,300 years ago.
It’s in the Panamarca archaeological site north of Lima & home to the ancient Moche culture in 7AD.
During the same excavation, the archaeologists discovered another room that they dubbed the “Hall of the Braided Serpents.” The hall features an array of squared pillars, which are decorated with motifs of serpents intertwined with human legs, something that has never been observed before in Moche art. Other pictures adorning the walls include anthropomorphized weapons, and a large monster chasing a man.
Moon Pyramid Bas Relief Mural, Peru (Representative Image Source: Getty Images | SL_photography)
“Perched above the plaza, this hall offered a prominent position—almost like box seats at a theater or stadium—from which to observe the goings-on down below, while it also provided private spaces for its privileged occupants,” archaeologist Michele L. Koons of the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, explained as part of the press release.
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