Andean Arts

NORTE CHICO: CARAL AND THE SUPE VALLEY

Peru's Supe Valley, now known as part of the "Norte Chico" region, has been the subject of much research in the last two decades.  There are sites with monumental architecture with very early dates in this valley.   

Caral, one of the largest cities in the Supe Valley, is centrally located mid-valley, and has evidence of trade and contact with the other pre-ceramic sites along the coast.  Caral is believed to be the earliest city in the Americas. The scale of the buildings and distribution of the structures indicates that there was a central authority coordinating building projects and that not everyone had equal access to the main structures. Although there is plenty of evidence of ceremonial activity, these buildings undoubtedly also served an administrative function as well.

Caral has a central core of monumental buildings which is divided into two sectors by an embankment. The largest structures are located, for the most part, north of the embankment.  Large, step platform structures with central stairways are arranged around an open area or plaza. The Pyramid or Temple of the Amphitheater is the largest building south of the embankment.  It is an impressive structure with a large, circular court.

Buildings at Caral consist of stepped pyramidal structures. There is evidence of the use of shicras, or woven fiber bags, which in this case held stones that added mass to the foundations of these structures. There is still also still evidence of pigment on wall surfaces. One can imagine that these were brightly painted structures, standing out in contrast to surrounding environment.

Evidence of ceremonial activity for this site includes burning pits (similar to those of the Kotosh-style) that were within the monumental buildings as well as caches of offerings.  Excavations by Ruth Shady at the Temple of the Amphitheater uncovered flutes made from bird bones, for example.  These flutes were incised with images of birds and monkeys.