Unveiling the Ancient Caral-Supe Civilization: Pyramids of Peru
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Chapter 1: The Discovery of Caral
In 1994, archaeologist Ruth Shady Solis from Peru's National University of San Marcos was traversing the arid northern regions of Peru when she stumbled upon a significant mound, approximately 23 kilometers from the coast.
This discovery ignited her passion, though the path to unearth it was fraught with challenges. With a tight budget, Solis often worked alone, at times even sleeping in her car. She faced danger, including a near robbery that left her injured.
Despite these hurdles, Solis persevered. With no official backing, she enlisted the help of 25 soldiers from the Peruvian army to assist her excavations. Her dedication led to the unearthing of an astonishing ancient city, estimated to be 5,000 years old, which is believed to have some of the earliest pyramids in the world.
Wait, did I mention that these pyramids are in Peru? When we think of pyramids, we typically envision the monumental structures of ancient Egypt, not those located in the Americas. The notion of pyramids here might trigger thoughts of Chichen Itza, but those structures are relatively recent!
Solis's findings challenged long-standing perceptions regarding monumental architecture in the New World and revealed Peru as a significant cradle of civilization. She uncovered Caral, a site that defied typical archaeological assumptions.
This ancient city belonged to the Norte Chico or Caral-Supe civilization. For consistency, I'll refer to it as Caral-Supe throughout this discussion, adhering to the terminology favored by Peru and UNESCO. Scattered along the Peruvian coastline are approximately thirty archaeological sites linked to Caral-Supe. Given the region's sparse vegetation, one must wonder: how did an ancient society thrive in such a parched environment?
To uncover this mystery, we should explore the geography of the Peruvian coast, which will help clarify how Caral-Supe differed from the river valley civilizations of Egypt, India, China, and Mesopotamia.
Section 1.1: Geography of the Peruvian Coast
The Peruvian coast is notably arid, situated between the Andes and the Pacific Ocean. This is perhaps the last place one would expect to find a flourishing ancient civilization.
Moist winds from the Amazon in the east, moving toward the Pacific, strike the Andes, leading to substantial snowfall but minimal rainfall in the coastal region. Surprisingly, the Pacific winds don't offer much assistance either. The warm currents from the west clash with the cold air from the Humboldt current, causing a temperature inversion. This phenomenon prevents moisture from forming, leaving the coastal area and the Atacama Desert in northern Chile among the driest places on the planet.
Curiosity about Peru's geography arose: how could a civilization emerge in such a desolate area?
A closer examination reveals several rivers that originate from the melting ice of the Andes, meandering across the Peruvian coast and emptying into the Pacific. Fertile lands along these rivers could support irrigation and agriculture, which would be crucial for sustaining human life.
However, this narrative doesn't entirely apply to Caral-Supe. The primary agricultural product was cotton, rather than corn, potatoes, or grains. The inhabitants relied more on marine resources than on terrestrial agriculture.
Section 1.2: A Maritime Foundation of Andean Civilizations?
The Peruvian coastline features four narrow river valleys: the Huara, Supe, Pativilca, and Fortaleza. Remarkably, between 3500 BC and 3200 BC, advanced cities with pyramids, temples, and residential areas flourished in this region. Scholars often consider this development on the arid Peruvian coast as an anomaly.
According to archaeologists Winifred Creamer and Jonathan Haas, who have conducted extensive research on Caral-Supe, "While a very small number of moderate sites with communal architecture…are found in other parts of the Andes, the concentration of at least 25 large ceremonial/residential sites in the valleys of the Norte Chico is unique." They liken the majority of the Andes to granules of sand, with the Norte Chico standing out like a towering volcano.
The Caral-Supe civilization was fueled by cotton and marine resources. Cotton was integral not just for textiles but also for the fishing nets that supported the fishing industry. Fish and seafood formed the backbone of the diet.
Inhabiting the coastal regions, the earliest hunter-gatherers primarily hunted Vicuña, a deer-like creature, and gathered fish from the mangrove swamps. By 6000 BC, however, 90% of their diet consisted of shellfish, fish, and seaweed, with little intake of fruits, vegetables, or land animals.
In 1975, archaeologist Michael Mosley proposed that the ancient city of Aspero, constructed around 3000 BC, served as a fishing hub and potentially the birthplace of Andean civilizations. He suggested that these early Peruvians migrated inland as they transitioned from a fish-based diet to agriculture, a theory known as the Maritime Foundation of Andean Civilization (MFAC).
Many archaeologists contested the idea that seafood was the mainstay of nutrition, arguing that a diet solely reliant on marine sources was economically unsustainable for a large civilization.
Haas and Creamer countered by proposing that inland sites developed simultaneously with Aspero, without dependency on it. They argued that sites like Caral controlled the cotton trade essential for the fishing industry, emphasizing the importance of cotton in capturing fish.
The riverside settlements of Caral-Supe cultivated squash, beans, and sweet potatoes to complement their seafood diet. Supporting evidence includes the discovery of seeds from fruits and vegetables in Aspero.
While the exact origins of Andean civilizations remain uncertain, it is evident that the Caral-Supe culture relied heavily on fish and cotton for sustenance, leading to the establishment of a complex society that became the first pyramid builders in the New World. Notably, Charles Mann, in his acclaimed book "1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus," asserts that Caral's pyramids predated those at Giza.
Video Description: This video explores whether advanced civilizations were responsible for building the pyramids, highlighting various archaeological findings.
Chapter 2: The Monumental Architecture of Caral
Solis's excavations revealed a vast area of 150 acres filled with monumental structures. Among these were six large platform mounds, one reaching heights of sixty feet and widths of five hundred feet. Two circular plazas were designated for religious gatherings, while the city featured large stone buildings that housed residential units.
The main temple complex, known as Templo Mayor, measures 150 meters in length, 110 meters in width, and 28 meters in height. Radiocarbon dating suggests that the city was founded around 2800 BC, with its monuments constructed by 2600 BC. Similar pyramids, such as those in Aspero, date back to 3000 BC, making them older than Egypt's first pyramid, dated to 2670 BC.
How the Egyptian pyramids were constructed remains one of history's great mysteries, with various theories proposed but no definitive answers.
In contrast, we have a clear understanding of how the pyramids at Caral were built. Workers utilized reed bags called shicras to transport stones, and they constructed the walls with mortar and plaster. Radiocarbon dating of these bags has aided archaeologists in estimating the monuments' ages.
What insights can we glean about Caral's society from these impressive structures?
The monumental architecture indicates a social hierarchy existed in Caral, with a governing body commissioning the construction of these pyramids. Unlike Old World civilizations, the governance in Peruvian cities did not arise from the need for defense against common enemies. The Caral-Supe towns lacked fortifications or evidence of warfare.
Researchers believe that the authority of the ruling class was intertwined with religion and economic activity. It was a theocratic society where officials fostered social cooperation and implemented a reward system for project completion.
According to Mann:
"Norte Chico chiefdoms were almost certainly theocratic, though not brutally so; leaders induced followers to obey by a combination of ideology, charisma, and skillfully timed positive reinforcement." Evidence of communal feasting, such as hearth stones scattered among fish bones and ash, suggests that city rulers organized celebratory events to motivate and reward laborers.
Religion played a pivotal role in Caral-Supe. The roots of the Andean religious practices seen in later cultures, including Nazca, Moche, Wari, Tiwanku, and the Incas, can be traced back to Caral.
Solis's excavations uncovered 32 stylized flutes crafted from pelican and condor bones, adorned with depictions of monkeys, snakes, and birds, likely used in sacred ceremonies. Additionally, Creamer discovered a gourd featuring an image of a fanged figure wielding a staff, possibly an early depiction of the Staff God, a significant deity in the Andean pantheon.
Video Description: Emily Teeter discusses the origins of Egyptian civilization, shedding light on the cultural developments preceding the iconic pyramids.
Chapter 3: The Decline and Legacy of Caral-Supe
Archaeologists made an intriguing discovery regarding the Caral-Supe cities: they lacked pottery. No pots, pans, or cooking vessels were found, leading to the designation of this era (3500 BC to 1600 BC) as the Pre-Ceramic period.
Despite their absence of pottery, the Caral-Supe civilization had an advanced record-keeping system. Quipus, made from cotton, were utilized for documentation. These knotted fibers served purposes similar to the Incan quipus, which tracked military data, inventories, and census information.
It is clear that Caral-Supe laid the groundwork for subsequent Andean civilizations. Their innovations, including quipus, irrigation systems, and monumental architecture, can be traced back to this remarkable culture.
However, between 1800 and 1600 BC, the cities of Caral-Supe were abandoned. Residents painted their homes black and moved inland. While the exact reasons remain unclear, drought and famine are often cited as likely causes.
Another theory posits that as Peru transitioned into the ceramic age, agricultural practices expanded. Cultivation began moving closer to the Andes, offering greater food security, prompting people to abandon cities reliant on a seafood-based diet.
Closing Remarks
The first time I learned about Caral through a BBC documentary, I was astounded. It was remarkable that one of the driest regions on Earth could have supported such an advanced culture. Even more surprising was their ability to construct pyramids and maintain records before the advent of ceramics. These pyramids rank among the oldest structures globally, raising critical questions about the designation of the Americas as the "New World."
For the people of Caral, the concept of government as a mechanism where individuals relinquish some freedom for protection was foreign. Instead, their society thrived on collaboration and incentives. Perhaps there are lessons to be drawn from their governance model.
Our understanding of Peru's pre-Ceramic past remains limited. El Paraíso, dating from 3500 BC to 1800 BC and located in the Chillón Valley, boasts pyramids potentially older than those in Caral-Supe. Unfortunately, a property development project in 2013 led to the destruction of one pyramid, while police intervened to prevent further demolitions.
It is likely that Peruvians built even older pyramids elsewhere, but our knowledge is scant. Archaeological excavations continue along the Peruvian coast, and we may eventually gain more insight into this intriguing pre-Ceramic period.
If you found this exploration captivating and enjoy learning about forgotten civilizations, consider reading about a lesser-known river valley civilization from Central Asia that coexisted with Mesopotamia, Egypt, China, and India.