Researchers from Utah Valley University unveil the reconstructed face of an 800-year-old Peruvian priestess, whose mummified remains were discovered at Chotuna-Chornancap.
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This is the reconstructed face of a Peruvian priestess who ruled around the year 1200.
Researchers from Utah Valley University unveiled the model on Tuesday at the Bruning Museum in Lambayeque, Peru.
Haagen Klaus, a bio-archaeologist and one of the project's lead researchers, explains the significance of the person.
[Haagen Klaus, Researcher]:
"This was probably one of the most powerful people in Lambayeque 800 years ago, so she was a central person in the political and religious structure."
The face is based on the mummified remains of the rulers found last year in a nearby tomb at the Chotuna-Chornancap archaeological site. That, in addition to photographs of women from around the region and computer generated images, allowed for this render.
Investigators believe that the ruler was between 30 and 40 years old when she died.
Carlos Wester, director of the Chotuna-Chornancap project, explained the significance of the work.
[Carlos Wester, Director of Chotuna-Chornancap]:
"It constitutes a concrete contribution to research and a clear sign that with archaeological research we must look to other areas, not just to things of value or shiny objects, but to highlight the physical presence of people, such as we can see with this image that we are so proud of."
He also mentioned that the work was done for free by researchers.
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