Caral
UNESCO World Heritage Site: Sacred City Of Caral Supe (2009). The Oldest Known City In The Americas, Built From About 2600 BC, A Contemporary Of The Egyptian Pyramids, With Six Stone Pyramids, A Sunken Circular Plaza And No Evidence Of War Or Ceramics. · Barranca, Lima
Caral is an archaeological city in the dry Supe valley, about 180 km north of Lima, and is dated by its excavators to roughly 2600 to 2000 BC, which makes it the oldest known city in the Americas and a contemporary of the early Egyptian pyramids. Six large stone pyramids stand above a desert plain, with a sunken circular plaza, an amphitheatre and the remains of houses around them. No walls and no weapons were found, which is taken as a sign of a peaceful society, and no pottery was found either. A quipu, an early knotted record, was reported here. Be honest about what you will see: bare stone and sand, with no carving or paint, and nothing like Machu Picchu. The value is the age and the idea of how early people built cities. Go in the morning, bring water and a hat, and give it half a day. The Peruvian archaeologist Ruth Shady is credited with leading the work here, and the museum and a good guide turn the empty plain into a story. Allow time to sit in the plaza and look.
Desert archaeological city in the Supe valley about 180 km north of Lima, reached from the town of Supe via a 25 km road, Barranca, Lima, Peru
The site is open most days from the morning to the late afternoon, and may close on some holidays or for maintenance. Entry is by a modest paid ticket and it is NEVER free except on some national days, so confirm at the gate. A guide at the entrance charges a modest fee. Go early, since the desert is hot and has little shade after midday.