Last month, the Pañamarca, also known as an important site of the ancient Moche culture, finally revealed a throne room.
Over 1,300 years old, ART News shared that it features murals of a snake in a detailed way, and a woman seated on the throne while receiving visitors. At the same time, there are also crafted images of a crown, sea creatures, a crescent moon, and a weaving workshop.
This led to the belief that powerful women may have ruled this society since the hall at Pañamarca is an important religious and political place for ancient civilizations practicing Moche culture thousands of years ago.
Huaca del sol, Moche (Photo : Screenshot from World History Encyclopedia)Women of Moche Culture Thousands of Years Ago
In another NY Times report, the throne is dated to 650 CE, judging by the signs of wear on its backrest. Archeologists also found human hair with colorful stones, which a DNA analysis will be done on, although it's currently uncertain about whether there's enough material for accurate testing.
Another area called the Hall of the Braided Serpents was found. It came in wide pillars and overlooks a plaza. As the name states, there are paintings of large serpents with human legs, a mysterious mythical creature still being studied, and warriors. While there have been discoveries of powerful women in Moche culture, these recent sightings were unlike anything they've seen.
From prior explorations to these recent ones, archeologists can sum up that the Moche culture is not male-dominated. Unfortunately, the ancient civilization had no formal writing system and experienced several looting cases over time, making it difficult to further understand their society.
Looking forward, more excavation will be done to finally paint a picture of what life had been in the Moche culture.