Although I never learned about it in school, there was civilization in Peru that dates back from before Ancient Egypt, to 5000 BC. According to the museum we visited in Caral, Peru, the civilization that existed in Caral was established around the year 5000 BC. Mesopotamia, which we learn about in school, was in power around 5200 BC, and Ancient Egypt, which we also learn about, was in power around 4800 BC. According to Maya (she is my history expert, because she studies all about Latin America back in Santa Barbara) Caral was not as advanced as some of the other ancient civilizations (Mesopotamia, Egypt, China, India), but I don't think that's any reason to leave it out of a textbook! There's still evidence that it existed.
In any case, they had a some artifacts that they had found at the site in the museum, plus we took a guided tour (it was the only way they would let us in, but it actually ended up being interesting).
The main part of the site is 5 pyramids, in a sort of semi-circular area. The upper class lived at the base of the pyramids and the middle class also lived inside the complex. The lower class, however, had to live outside of the main part of the city. We weren't allowed to visit that part, because they are doing a bunch of excavation and restoration work of the site (our "guide" was actually an archaeologist who has to give tours to tourists because they don't trust us to wander around on our own...)
During it's high point, about 3000 people were living in Caral. The civilization as a whole, however, expanded over the entire Supe Valley. While we were driving from Barranca, we saw other ruins off to the side of the road, presumably from the same civilization. However, they have only found 3 dead bodies thus far, so they think that they had a cemetery somewhere in the valley, they just haven't found where yet.
The place where we were staying, Barranca, was by far one of the skechiest places we have been (sorry Mom and Dad, didn't think I should disclose that informatin up front), but they guy who ran our hotel was really great. He always helped us grab a cab, gave us really good directions on how to get places, and would tell us where not to go. And, he wouldn't let us out at night by ourselves, he always made sure we went in a cab and that we went to a restaurant he knew. The drive to the ruins was about an hour. We first had catch a colective (shared taxi) over to the next town, and then from there, catch a colectivo to the modern day city of Caral. It was an interesting drive, though. It was my first time really being in the desert (and it's really desert there, why did all the really old civilizations decide to live in the desert??), but all along the valley floor, it was super green, which I thought was weird.
In any case, I was in awe that I was walking around one of the oldest civilizations in the world. Oh, the ruins weren't even discovered until 1994...maybe that's why I didn't learn about it in school, but Amelia and Eli's textbooks have no excuse...
After we got dropped off by the colectivo in Caral we had to walk about 15 minutes to get to the entrance of the ruins. The path was nice and shady (thank goodness!) and had a little stream running alongside it. Everything that was near the stream was green, everything else was brown.
Welcome to the Caral! The oldest (surviving...remaining...ruins? I'm not sure of the right word) city in the Americas!
Looking out over the pyramids. The hat that's in my hand? The hotel owner insisted that I bring it along since there is no shade at the ruins and I am very white. I was a little hesitant to wear it at first, but after doing a thorough inspection decided it was clean, and that it was hot outside, and I probably would burn my face without it (even with the copious amounts of sunscreen I applied). Besides, Maya said I looked like an archaeologist with it, haha.
Some steps leading up to one of the pyramids. We weren't allowed to climb on any of them because of the restorations :(
Maya and I in front of the most famous pyramid at Caral. Apparently it was the most "religious" one. The little circular courtyard in front apparently has some rooms underneath it where the priests used to go and have some "visions." (You an guess what they were doing down there...)
The ampitheater. I'm not exactly sure what they did there...
Me sitting on one of the sand dunes. I was going to climb farther up but was really tired after only going this far. The desert is such a crazy place.
The modern day city of Caral, not too far outside the ruins (3 km I think).
It was really fun and interesting to learn about a new civilization that existed so long ago...and most people never even learn about! The pyramids look like a mini version of how I imagine the pyramids in Egypt to look like. Hopefully someday I'll actually be able to make that comparison!
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