Sacred City of Caral-Supe

World Heritage Research

Discover scientific research and academic studies that deepen our understanding of Sacred City of Caral-Supe from its history and significance to its conservation, management, and contemporary challenges.

• Basic forms and types of social communications seven Andean cultures of Peru (the period from 35–40 million years BC to 700 AD)

  A groundbreaking study reveals the convergence of spiritual-energetic and material-technological components across seven ancient Andean cultures spanning from 35–40 million years BC to 700 AD, including Paleolithic, lithic, Chavin, Karal, Nazca, and Vicus. This finding challenges traditional narratives by demonstrating a consistent pattern of social communication that persisted through millennia in Peru's history. The research utilized innovative methods such as quantum chronos analysis, social engineering modeling, and the theory of cumulative culture to decode and classify forms and types of social communication from archaeological artifacts. By applying a holistic approach, the study not only identified specific features unique to each culture but also established a model for future analyses of ancient communication systems.

  Kholod, O. (2024). Basic forms and types of social communications seven Andean cultures of Peru (the period from 35–40 million years BC to 700 AD). Social Communications: Theory and Practice, 16(2), 10–59. https://doi.org/10.51423/2524-0471-2024-16-2-1

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• CFD Investigations of Water Supply and Distribution Systems of Ancient Old and New World Archaeological Sites to Recover Ancient Water Engineering Technologies

  Advanced computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis has uncovered previously unknown depths of ancient water engineering knowledge at UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the Sacred City of Caral-Supe. This groundbreaking approach, using FLOW-3D CFD software, reveals sophisticated hydraulic designs and operational techniques employed by ancient engineers—details that were not recognized in traditional archaeological studies. The research demonstrates that equivalent ancient technologies existed alongside modern methods, though their formats, texts, and origins remain to be discovered. By applying paleohydrology—a fusion of modern hydraulic engineering and computational analysis—to nine archaeological sites (several of which are World Heritage Sites), the study provides new revelations about ancient water systems, adding a critical dimension to our understanding of historical urban and agricultural water infrastructure.

  Ortloff, C. R. (2023). CFD Investigations of Water Supply and Distribution Systems of Ancient Old and New World Archaeological Sites to Recover Ancient Water Engineering Technologies. Water, 15(7), 1363. https://doi.org/10.3390/w15071363

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• Analysis of starch grains trapped in human dental calculus in Áspero, Peru during the Initial Formative Period (3000–1800 BCE)

  A groundbreaking analysis of starch grains trapped in human dental calculus from Áspero, Peru, during the Initial Formative Period (3000–1800 BCE), reveals that sweet potato, squash, and maize were prominent dietary components, with 100% ubiquity for sweet potato and maize, and 90% for squash. This challenges previous isotopic analysis suggesting maize was a marginal food, highlighting the complexity of inferring plant consumption frequency from starch grain abundance. The study, which also includes data from an individual in the Sacred City of Caral, underscores the importance of multi-proxy approaches to understanding ancient diets.

  Yseki, M., Pezo-Lanfranco, L., Machacuay, M., Novoa, P., & Shady, R. (2023). Analysis of starch grains trapped in human dental calculus in Áspero, Peru during the Initial Formative Period (3000–1800 BCE). Scientific Reports, 13(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-41015-6

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• Aproximaciones al Horizonte Tardío en los valles de Supe y Huaura: Caral, Chimú Cápac y Acaray

  A preliminary characterization of the Late Horizon in the Supe and Huaura valleys reveals significant cultural continuities and transformations among three iconic sites: Caral, Chimú Cápac, and Acaray. The study identifies distinct material culture elements, including architecture, funerary practices, ceramic styles, and occupation sequences associated with Inca, Chimú, and Chancay cultures. Using observational methodologies, field archaeology techniques, and cabinet analyses, researchers propose a nuanced sequence of cultural development in the region, shedding light on the complex interplay between these civilizations during the Late Horizon period.

  Cornejo Guerrero, M. A., Bisetti Quito, C. D. A., Huarcaya Veliz, J. J., & Robles Abanto, C. E. (2023). Aproximaciones al Horizonte Tardío en los valles de Supe y Huaura: Caral, Chimú Cápac y Acaray. Arqueología Y Sociedad, (38), 155–181. https://doi.org/10.15381/arqueolsoc.2023n38.e24899

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• Analysis of microbiome diversity in coprolites from Caral, Peru

  A groundbreaking analysis of ancient coprolites from the Sacred City of Caral, Peru—the oldest civilization in the Americas—reveals the microbial diversity of its inhabitants dating back 3000 to 1800 years BC. The study identified Firmicutes as the dominant bacterial phylum and Ascomycota and Basidiomycota among fungi, with Bacillus and Aspergillus emerging as the most abundant genera in all samples. To minimize contamination, DNA extraction was performed using a mobile ancient laboratory near the collection site, enabling rapid molecular processing. This innovative approach provides the first comprehensive microbiome profile of Caral, offering insights into the dietary habits and environmental interactions of its people.

  Jaramillo-Valverde, L. (2022). Analysis of microbiome diversity in coprolites from Caral, Peru. Bioinformation, 18(12), 1159–1165. https://doi.org/10.6026/973206300181159

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• The River and the Sky: Astronomy and Topography in Caral Society, America's First Urban Centers

  Research at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Caral-Supe reveals that America's earliest urban centers were strategically oriented not only by the Supe River but also by significant astronomical events, particularly the southernmost moonrise and the June solstice sunrise. These orientations likely aligned with seasonal rains, river flooding, and agricultural cycles, suggesting a sophisticated understanding of celestial phenomena to inform societal practices. The study combines topographical analysis with astronomical modeling to demonstrate an unprecedented integration of landscape and skyscape in pre-Columbian cultures, marking one of the first instances of such interaction in the Americas.

  González-García, A. C., Crispín, A., Solís, R. S., Ricra, J., Criado-Boado, F., & Belmonte, J. A. (2021). The River and the Sky: Astronomy and Topography in Caral Society, America’s First Urban Centers. Latin American Antiquity, 32(1), 154–172. https://doi.org/10.1017/laq.2020.88

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• A New Model to Explain the Alignment of Certain Ancient Sites

  A new model proposes that the alignment of certain ancient sites, including pyramids and temples worldwide, can be explained by shifts in Earth's geographic poles. The study found that over 80% of previously unexplained sites—such as Mesoamerican structures, megalithic buildings in Peru’s Sacred Valley, and Egyptian pyramids—reference four locations near the North Pole, consistent with Charles Hapgood’s hypothesis of crustal displacement. These alignments would have been precise if built relative to former poles but appear misaligned today due to subsequent pole shifts.

  Carlotto, M. (2020). A New Model to Explain the Alignment of Certain Ancient Sites. Journal of Scientific Exploration, 34(2), 209–232. https://doi.org/10.31275/20201619

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