Huaricanga

Huaricanga is the earliest city of the Norte Chico civilization. It existed around 3500 BCE and was the oldest city in the Americas and one of the earliest cities in the world."^[1] This Late Archaic site is located in the Fortaleza Valley on Peru’s north central coast. It is 14 miles inland from the Pacific Ocean. The site covers a total area of 100 hectares, and is the largest Late Archaic construction in the Norte Chico region. Currently, the Pativilca-Huaraz highway divides the site. The current site consists of two mounds, the larger of which measures roughly two football fields in length. Near this larger mound were two standing stones, known as huancas, which are believed to hold some sacred ceremonial purpose. Huaricanga also served as a religious center, and residents would persuade fishermen and inhabitants of the nearby highlands to participate in seasonal rituals.

Additionally, there is a third, U shaped mound located above the river floodplain at Huaricanga. It is known as El Castillo de Huaricanga, and judging from the ceramics found at the site, it was from the Initial Period (1800-900 BC).^[2] During this time and during the Early Horizon Period (900-200 BC), El Castillo de Huaricanga served as a stop for travelers on their way to the major religious site of Chavin de Huantar.

The site of Huaricanga has been excavated in 2003 and 2007 by PANC (Proyecto Arqueológico Norte Chico). The 2007 excavation uncovered evidence of a structure that consisted of a two level floor, a surrounding bench, a central fire pit, and niched walls. This indicates that the temple was constructed in the Mito architectural tradition, which is also seen in the Peruvian highlands. However, using radiocarbon dating, the structure has been confirmed to be constructed around 2560 BC. This means that this temple predates even the earliest known examples of the Mito tradition. A range of samples was tested, including mixed plant fibers, bag fibers, and charcoal.

The land in and around Huaricanga consists mainly of rock and dirt, with very few trees. The climate is generally dry. The ancient people of Huaricanga were completely dependent on irrigation for the growth of their crops. Some experts theorize that an increased frequency of the weather phenomenon El Niño worsened fishing conditions, driving people inland towards sites such as Huaricanga.

Norte Chico

5000 years ago, the Norte Chico region was the cradle of Andean civilization. Norte Chico (“Little North”) is a region on Peru’s north central Pacific coast approximately 100 miles north of the modern city of Lima. It contains four river valleys: Fortaleza, Pativilca, Supe, and Huaura. Archaeological surveys have uncovered 30 Late Archaic sites, ranging from 10 to 200 hectares in area. These sites are characterized by large, pyramid-like structures, sunken ceremonial plazas, and other assorted temples and housing.

Role of Agriculture

For the past 40 years, the reasons as to why all of these South American ancient civilizations emerged in Peru in the Late Archaic period have been a topic of debate. Many believed that the nearby marine resources were the catalyst to the rapid cultural development in the Andean region of Peru. The minimal macroscopic evidence of corn led researchers to believe that it was simply used for ceremonial purposes. However, between 2002 and 2008, researchers conducted exploratory excavations in the valleys of Pativilca and Fortaleza.^[3] The majority of the focus was on two sites in particular, Caballete and Huaricanga. The researchers looked at microscopic evidence found in soil samples, stone tools, and coprolites (fossilized fecal matter). In the prehistoric samples, they found an abundance of Zea mays pollen. This is congruent with evidence found Mesopotamia, Egypt, India, and China, which are other ancient cultures that emerged due to agriculture. Also, of the stone tools that were tested, the large majority showed evidence of corn starch grains or corn phytoliths, which are plant silica bodies. Finally, in the coprolites that they tested, most contained corn starch grains or corn phytoliths, in addition to evidence of sweet potatoes and anchovies. All of this evidence firmly points to agriculture as the driving force behind the development of civilization in Huaricanga, as well as the entire Andean region. Recent research indicates the presence of 14 other domesticated plant species, both fruits and vegetables. It is believed that in addition to being used as sustenance, these botanical species were also used for religious rituals, healing rituals, and construction materials.

Present Work

Presently, archaeological excavations are being carries out at the Huaricanga site as part of the Huaricanga Archaeological Research Project (HARP). These efforts are being co-directed by Matthew Piscitelli and Carmela Alarcon. Their work can be found at http://diggingperu.wordpress.com/

References

Coordinates: 10°29′S 77°46′W / 10.483°S 77.767°W / -10.483; -77.767