Ruling from the grave: Wari art, rulership and organization at Castillo de Huarmey, Peru

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This study presents new archaeological data from Castillo de Huarmey (coastal Peru), a major ceremonial complex of the Wari period (AD 650–1050), to enhance our understanding of rulership in the ancient Andes. In particular, I focus on how ancestor bundles, monumental funerary structures and elite arts were key elements for the consolidation of Wari imperial rule in the Huarmey Valley. By describing a range of burial contexts at the site, especially the royal ‘Red Mausoleum,’ this article examines their role in affirming the social order, materializing hierarchies of power, and legitimizing authority and rulership in Wari’s provincial lands. In particular, the evidence highlights the contributions of female nobles and significant roles of women in provincial rule. I propose that The Principal Lady of the Castillo de Huarmey necropolis functioned as a ‘stranger-queen,’ who embodied a transformative authority rooted in her ability to integrate foreign Wari traditions with local cultural elements, thereby legitimizing her power as both a regional leader and an agent of broader imperial influence.