Sites › South America › Caral (Sacred City of Caral-Supe)
Caral (Sacred City of Caral-Supe)
| Location | Supe Valley, about 180 km north of Lima, Peru |
|---|---|
| Conventional date | Monumental phase from about 2627 cal BCE (radiocarbon). |
| Alternative date proposals | None with significant published support that we know of. |
| What is measured |
|
One of the oldest cities in the Americas, contemporary with Egypt's early pyramids, with large platform mounds and sunken circular plazas. A reminder that mainstream timelines do move when sites are dated.
Claims about this site
| Claim | Status | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| Pyramids around the world point to a common lost source | Leading Edge | Open question |
| Monumental pyramids in Peru are as old as Egypt's | Mainstream | Measured: c. 2600 BCE |
Visiting: Cusco, Sacsayhuamán and the Sacred Valley
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- Sacsayhuamán & Cusco tours (search) GetYourGuide
- Sacsayhuamán & Cusco tours (search) Viator
- Caral day trips from Lima (search) GetYourGuide
Sources
- Shady Solis, R., Haas, J. & Creamer, W. (2001). Dating Caral, a preceramic site in the Supe Valley on the central coast of Peru. Science 292. doi:10.1126/science.1059519 data
Dates are summarised in our own words from the sources listed. Conventional and alternative dates are both reported; "measured" lists only dated or documented findings. Methodology.