Huaricanga facts for kids

Huaricanga was a very old city in Peru. It was part of the Norte Chico civilization, also called Caral. This city existed around 3500 BC. That makes it the oldest known city in the Americas! It is also one of the first cities ever built in the world.

Huaricanga is located in the dry Fortaleza Valley. This area is on Peru’s north central coast. It is about 14 mi (23 km) away from the Pacific Ocean. The site covers a huge area of 100 hectares. It is the biggest building project from the Late Archaic period in the Norte Chico region.

At the site, you can see three large mounds made of earth. People believe these were once pyramid-shaped buildings. There are also two tall standing stones, called huancas. In 2007, archaeologists found what they think was a temple. Its design was similar to an older style called Mito architecture. This style is found in the Peruvian highlands.

Later studies in the Fortaleza and Pativilca valleys found proof of corn farming. They also found evidence of 14 other plants that people grew for food. This suggests that farming was very important for the Caral-Supe civilization. It was just as important as it was for other ancient civilizations like Mesopotamia, Egypt, China, and India.

The Norte Chico Civilization

About 5000 years ago, the Norte Chico region became home to the first civilization in the Americas. This civilization is also known as Caral-Supe or Caral. A Peruvian archaeologist named Ruth Shady first identified it as a unique civilization. She has been writing about it since 1994. Researchers from North America have also helped with digs and shared information about this amazing discovery. This has changed what we know about the history of the Andes mountains.

This region is on Peru’s north central Pacific coast. It is about 100 miles north of the modern city of Lima. It has four river valleys: Fortaleza, Pativilca, Supe, and Huaura. Archaeologists have found 30 ancient sites from the Late Archaic period. These sites range from 10 to 200 hectares in size. They often have large, pyramid-like buildings, special sunken plazas for ceremonies, and other temples and homes.

What Huaricanga Looks Like Today

Today, a highway called Pativilca-Huaraz cuts through the Huaricanga site. Near the river, you can still see the remains of two mounds. The larger one is about 220 m (720 ft) long. Close to this big mound are the two standing stones, or huancas. People believe these stones were used for important religious ceremonies. Huaricanga was likely a religious center. People from nearby fishing villages and highland areas would come here for seasonal rituals.

There is also a third, U-shaped mound located above the river. It is known as El Castillo de Huaricanga. Pottery found here shows it was used during the Initial Period (1800–900 BC). During this time, and later in the Early Horizon Period (900–200 BC), El Castillo de Huaricanga was a stop for travelers. They were often on their way to the major religious site of Chavín de Huántar.

The land around Huaricanga is mostly rocky and dry, with very few trees. The ancient people of Huaricanga needed irrigation to grow their crops. Some experts think that more frequent El Niño weather events made fishing harder. This might have caused people to move inland to places like Huaricanga.

Archaeologists from PANC (Proyecto Arqueológico Norte Chico) dug at Huaricanga in 2003 and 2007. The 2007 dig found a structure that might have been a temple. It had a two-level floor, a bench around the edge, a central fire pit, and walls with special niches. This design is similar to the Mito architectural style found in the Peruvian highlands. However, radiocarbon dating showed that this structure was built around 2560 BC. This means it is older than other known examples of the Mito tradition. Scientists tested many samples, including plant fibers and charcoal, to find its age.

The Importance of Farming

For a long time, historians wondered why so many ancient civilizations appeared in Peru during the Late Archaic period. Many thought that the rich ocean resources nearby were the main reason. This was different from most early civilizations that relied on farming. At first, researchers found very little corn at Huaricanga. They thought it was only used for ceremonies.

But between 2002 and 2008, researchers did more digs in the Pativilca and Fortaleza valleys. They shared their findings in 2013. They looked closely at sites like Caballete and Huaricanga.

Scientists examined tiny evidence from old soil samples, stone tools, and coprolites (fossilized poop). They found a lot of Zea mays (corn) pollen. This is similar to what was found in Mesopotamia, Egypt, India, and China. These are other ancient civilizations that grew because of farming. Also, many stone tools showed signs of corn starch or corn phytoliths (tiny plant parts). Finally, most of the coprolites had corn starch or phytoliths. They also showed evidence of sweet potatoes and anchovies. All this evidence suggests that farming helped the Huaricanga civilization grow. It also supported the entire Andean region. Recent studies show that 14 other types of plants were grown there, including fruits and vegetables. Researchers believe these plants were used for religious rituals, healing, building materials, and food.

Current Work at Huaricanga

Archaeological digs are still happening at the Huaricanga site. This work is part of the Huaricanga Archaeological Research Project (HARP). Matthew Piscitelli and Carmela Alarcon lead these efforts. They work with the Field Museum in Chicago, USA.

See also

In Spanish: Huaricanga para niños