Ancient Peruvian Priestess Face Reconstructed

The reconstructed face of a high ruling Peruvian priestess has been unveiled by researchers from Utah Valley University.

They revealed the reconstruction during a presentation at the Bruning Museum in Lambayeque, Peru.

Priestesses were very powerful in ancient Peru and this one is said to have governed in around 1200 AD.

"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," said Haagen Klaus one of the project's land researchers.

The ruler's mummified remains were discovered in a tomb last year near the city of Lambayeque, at the Chotuna Chornancap archaeological site.

Carlos Wester, the director of the Chotuna Chornancap project, outlined the hard work behind the archaeological feat.

"This (facial reconstruction) takes an average of five or six months of hard work from our colleagues at Utah Valley University.

"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," said Mr Wester.

The reconstruction involved a combination of the priestess's mummified remains, old photographs of women from the region and computer generated images.

Investigators believe the priestess was between 30 and 40 years old when she died.