Peru: Caral declared Andean Community's cultural, architectural benchmark

The agreement was reached during the last plenary session held late August in Bogota (Colombia).

"The resolution recognizes the invaluable historic and cultural value of Caral Civilization and Sacred City, by declaring it as the Andean region's benchmark. Likewise, it stresses the work of the people and institutions that seek to preserve, protect, and safeguard this important archaeological heritage. I was in charge of officially delivering the resolution to Ruth Shady, director at Caral Archaeological Zone," said Alan Fairlie, Peruvian member of the Andean Parliament.

In coordination with Caral Archaeological Zone (ZAC) and Executing Unit 003 of the Ministry of Culture —prior to this new recognition— the Andean legislators visited Caral and received comprehensive information about the Sacred City, the most outstanding urban center of Caral Civilization, located in Peru, mainly in Supe district of Barranca province (Lima region).

Furthermore, they were given the results of the research —conducted for 25 years now— on the oldest civilization in the Americas developed in the north-central area of Peru during the Late Archaic Period (3000-1800 B.C.).

According to studies led by archaeologist Ruth Shady and her multidisciplinary team —since 1994— Caral is the oldest civilization in Peru and the Americas. 

It is considered one of the six centers of civilization recognized in the world along with Mesopotamia, Egypt, China, India, and Mesoamerica.

The Sacred City of Caral is the most outstanding testimony to this civilization, because of its architectural, spatial design and complexity, mainly of its monumental platform buildings and sunken circular plazas.

Spread over 66 ha, the city has a core area with 32 public architectural structures, several residential groups, and two outlying areas.

The research team led by Ruth Shady has recently identified 25 urban centers related to the Caral civilization in Supe Valley.

Research in 12 of them evidences that they developed in harmony with nature and other societies.

There is also evidence of inter-regional and long-distance trade in a framework of shared benefit and respect for customs, ideologies and languages of different Andean societies.

The Caral Civilization's cultural tradition did not disappear after its urban centers were occupied; on the contrary, it was present in the development of subsequent Andean societies.

Among its most outstanding achievements is the production of knowledge in science and technology, applied in engineering, agriculture, fisheries, art, among other fields.

(END) NDP/MAO/RMB/MVB