3,800-Year-Old Statues from Advanced Caral Civilization found in Peru

Researchers in Peru have discovered three statues and two faces believed to be from the ancient Caral civilization located on the coast north of the capital, Lima.

According to a report on the discovery by the website Phys Org, the statuettes were found inside a reed basket in the ancient city of Vichama in northern Peru, more properly known as Caral, located north of Lima on the Peruvian coast. Two of the statues depict a man and a woman, both naked, painted in white, black and red. The people they represent may have been important political functionaries within the Caral society, also known as the Norte Chico civilization. A third statue has 28 fingers and red dots painted on her face, perhaps representing a priestess. Two other items were discovered, both made from mud and depicting women’s faces. They were wrapped in cloth and covered with yellow, blue and orange feathers.