The El Brujo Archaeological Complex has been managed by the Wiese Foundation since the year 1990, as part of an interinstitutional alliance with the Ministry of Culture. Thanks to this, it is possible to work for the preservation, investigation, valuation, and social use of the cultural testament represented in the archaeological complex.
About the El Brujo Archaeological Complex
The archaeological complex, located in the northern part of the country, stands out as the only site with material evidence of human occupation corresponding to all the periods of history of Peru. The oldest evidence of occupations date to 12,000 years BCE, and the most modern evidence is from the 19th and 20th centuries.
From among these periods, the one that draws the most attention is that which corresponds to the Moche Culture. However, the pre-Ceramic occupations at El Brujo are the ones that have had the most research done on them to date.
The Lady of Cao, tourist attraction of Ascope
The Lady of Cao is one of the main tourist attractions within the El Brujo Archaeological Complex. Furthermore, this is a tourist destination that allows visitors to engage with different historical aspects that surround this important archaeological figure.
The Lady of Cao was found in 2004 in the middle of a funerary context made up of five tombs. This find was significant within Peruvian archaeology because of the sex of the individual discovered.
The body was found wrapped in a mummy bundle in an excellent state of conservation. This bundle weighed around 120 kg, and through the unwrapping process, 22 layers grouped in three phases were found: the outer bundle, the middle bundle, and the inner bundle.
Rooms 6 and 7 at the site museum are dedicated to the Lady of Cao
Room 6 at the museum, called “The World of the Ancestors”, displays the mummified body of the Lady of Cao, in addition to her burial goods, photographs of her tattoos, and other pieces.
Meanwhile, in Room 7 is found the facial reconstruction of the Lady of Cao; this space also seeks to revalue the roles of Peruvian women and men that, throughout history, have contributed to the creation of our cultural identity.
Visit the El Brujo Archaeological Complex!
There are three alternative routes for visits to the El Brujo Archaeological Complex. First there is the classic route, a short tour that allows you to see Huaca Cao Viejo and the site museum.
Second, there is the Mystic Route, which is focused on learning about the ceremonial activities carried out during the Moche occupation. And finally, there is the Specialized Route, aimed at travelers seeking to learn more about culture and archaeology, which includes tours of the most important sectors of the complex: Huaca Prieta, Paredones, and the monumental Huaca Cortada. The El Brujo Archaeological Complex can be visited Monday through Sunday from 9 am to 3:50 pm. We invite you to learn more about the El Brujo Archaeological Program here!
