‘The pyramids of Caral in Peru are approximately 5,000 years old. This makes Caral the oldest known city in the Americas and one of the oldest in the world.’ (AI)

Is Caral what archaeologists call – the ‘Mother City of Civilization?’

If contrary to conventional theory about the emergence of civilization, Caral was not a militarised community, i.e. the civilization did not emerge out of conflict and coercion, then it must have emerged out of peace and co-operation.

Caral flourished for over 1000 years.

See – BBC.Horizon.The.Lost.Pyramids.Of.Caral.2002.50Min: https://lnkd.in/e_ZnV6kM

The published literature on Caral is thin.

I could only find one book about Caral available on Amazon Books.

Doubtless there is more academic literature.

So, what is known about Caral?

‘Caral, also known as the Sacred City of Caral-Supe, is the oldest known civilization in the Americas, dating back over 5,000 years to the Late Archaic Period of the Central Andes in Peru. It is considered one of the six sites where civilization independently originated in the ancient world. Caral is characterized by monumental architecture, including six large pyramidal structures, sunken circular courts, and residential areas, all indicative of a complex society with a powerful religious ideology. The site is also notable for its lack of pottery, which is unusual for ancient civilizations, and for the absence of evidence of warfare, suggesting a peaceful, commerce-based society.

Key aspects of Caral:

Age and Location:

Flourished between 3000 and 1800 BCE in the Supe Valley on the north-central coast of Peru.

Urban Planning:

Caral features a carefully planned layout with pyramids, sunken plazas, residential areas, and an amphitheater, showcasing advanced architectural and urban planning skills.

Monumental Architecture:

The six large pyramidal structures, particularly the Piramide Mayor, are among the oldest pyramids in the world, demonstrating the civilization’s engineering prowess.

Absence of Warfare:

Archaeological evidence suggests a peaceful society with no evidence of weapons, fortifications, or warfare.

Commerce and Trade:

Caral was a center for trade, with evidence of exchanges with coastal communities and inland regions, including the Amazon and Ecuador.

Religious Significance:

Monumental architecture and the presence of ceremonial spaces and offerings suggest a strong religious component to Caral society.

Influence:

Caral is considered a foundational civilization that influenced later Andean cultures, including the Inca.

Unique Features:

The lack of pottery is a distinguishing feature, possibly due to the use of other materials like gourds for cooking and storage.

Artifacts:

Finds include flutes made from animal bones, a quipu (a knotted textile used for record-keeping), and evidence of herbal medicines.’ (AI)

Through what langauage was the conduct of long-distance trade negotiated?

‘Caral, Peru, is located inland, about 200 miles (322 kilometers) from the western edge of the Amazon rainforest. Specifically, Caral is situated on a terrace overlooking the Supe River valley, inland from the Pacific coast. The Amazon rainforest, one of the world’s largest, stretches across much of northern and eastern South America.’ (AI)

How was such long distance trade possible?

‘The specific language used for negotiating long-distance trade by the people of Caral is unknown. While Caral is the oldest civilization in the Americas, they did not leave behind any written records, making it impossible to know the language(s) they used for communication. Therefore, the exact language(s) used in trade negotiations remains a mystery.

Here’s why we don’t know:

Lack of Written Records: Caral predates the development of writing in the region.

Focus on Material Culture:

Archaeological evidence focuses on the material culture of Caral, such as their architecture, urban planning, and trade goods, rather than linguistic data.

Inferred Trade Practices:

Based on the evidence, scholars can infer that Caral engaged in long-distance trade, exchanging goods like cotton and dehydrated fish, but the specific language used for these transactions is not documented.’ (AI)

So, there was a pattern of ‘long-distance’ trade between Caral and other parts of the Americas e.g. civilizations living in the Amazon, which is located hundreds of miles away from Caral.

‘Trade between Caral, a location in Peru, and the Amazon rainforest was historically facilitated by the region’s geography and the availability of resources. Caral’s proximity to the Andes Mountains and the headwaters of rivers flowing into the Amazon allowed for the movement of goods and people through riverine and overland routes.

This trade involved the exchange of resources like medicinal plants, fruits, nuts, and other forest products from the Amazon for goods from the highlands and coastal regions of Peru, including pottery, tools, and agricultural products.

Riverine Trade:

The Amazon River and its tributaries served as vital waterways for transportation. Indigenous communities living along the rivers used canoes and rafts to navigate and transport goods, facilitating trade between different groups and settlements.

Overland Routes:

Trade routes also existed over land, connecting the highlands of Peru with the Amazonian lowlands. These routes often followed river valleys and natural passes through the Andes, allowing for the exchange of goods between different ecological zones.
Resource Exchange:

Specialized Skills and Knowledge:

The trade also involved the exchange of knowledge and skills.’ (AI)

‘Is Caral Civilization older than Olmec Civilization?’

AI – ‘Yes, the Caral civilization is significantly older than the Olmec civilization. Caral, located in present-day Peru, is considered the oldest civilization in the Americas, emerging around 3000 BC. The Olmec civilization, located in present-day Mexico, developed much later, flourishing between 1200 BC and 400 BC. Therefore, Caral predates Olmec by roughly 1,800 years.’

So, Caral is an ‘outlier’ because it did not emerge between latitude 22°N to 33°N.

Caral also emerged on the west coast of South America (in Peru), whereas the Olmecs suddenly appeared from out of nowhere, on the east coast of what is today Mexico.

We need to know more about the ancient and ‘peaceful’ civilization of Caral.

I just asked Google AI – ‘What mathematical and engineering knowledge do the ancient people of Caral in Peru and Egypt have in common?’

The answer is too long to include here.

Extract –

‘Ancient Egyptians and the people of Caral in Peru, despite being geographically separated by vast distances and distinct cultural backgrounds, shared a remarkable understanding of mathematics and engineering principles, particularly in the areas of geometry, measurement, and large-scale construction. Both civilizations utilized these skills to create impressive structures like pyramids and complex urban centers.

Similarities in Mathematical Knowledge:

Both cultures demonstrated a grasp of geometric principles, essential for planning and constructing monumental buildings.

Accurate measurement was crucial for both civilizations. …

Both societies applied their mathematical knowledge to solve real-world problems. …

Both cultures developed their own number systems and methods for performing calculations, including multiplication, division, and fractions.

Both civilizations are renowned for their monumental architecture.

Both civilizations demonstrated an understanding of astronomical alignment.

Adaptation to Environment:’ (AI)

‘What knowledge of irrigation and agriculture did the ancient people of Carl and the Egyptians have in common?’

AI – NB answer too long to insert here:

‘Both ancient Egyptians and the people of Caral (a civilization in ancient Peru) developed sophisticated irrigation and agricultural systems to manage water resources and cultivate crops, despite being geographically separated by vast distances. They both utilized techniques to control and distribute water from rivers, enabling them to sustain large populations and build complex societies. …

Both civilizations employed basin irrigation, a system of using earthen walls to create basins that would flood and then slowly drain, saturating the soil for planting.

Canals and Ditches …

Control of River Flows …

Crop Cultivation …

Tools for Planting and Harvesting …

Animal Power …

Food Security and Surplus …

In essence, both ancient Egyptian and Caral civilizations demonstrated a deep understanding of their local water resources and developed ingenious methods to harness them for agriculture, forming the foundation for their thriving societies.’

So, ‘Caral’ is looking less like an ‘outlier.’