Constanza Ceruti

María Constanza Ceruti (born 11 January 1973) is an Argentinian high-altitude archaeologist and anthropologist. She specializes in excavating Inca Empire ceremonial centers on the summits of Andean mountains in countries like Argentina and Peru.

Work

Born in the city of Buenos Aires on 11 January 1973, she studied anthropology in the University of Buenos Aires. In 1995 she performed an archaeological excavation at an altitude of more than 5.800 meters with Johan Reinhard on the higher slopes of the volcano Misti in Arequipa, Peru. The remains of six human sacrifices older than 500 years of antiquity were discovered. Since 1995, she has performed more than eighty excavations in the Andes. In 1999 she discovered with a team of the National Geographic, at an altitude of almost 7.000 meters, the bodies of three Incan children on the slopes of the volcano Llullaillaco. These mummies are considered as ones of the mummies better preserved of the world.

On 5 August 2000, the Argentinian Army, awarded her its highest mountain distinction, the Golden Condor Honoris Causa, for her high altitude experience with over 100 ascents above 5000 meters. She was nominated for woman of year in Argentina in 2000.

In October 2001, she obtained her PhD of the National University of Cuyo, turning her into the first archaeologist specialised in high altitude archaeology. At present she acts are director ad-honorem of the Institute of High Mountain Investigations of the Catholic University of Salta, and as head of conservation of the museums of the city of Salta.

In 2007, she received the 2007 WINGS Women of Discovery Award.