2025-05-20 | Cultural Heritage
Sacred City of Caral – Supe, Cultural Heritage
Inscription: 33rd Session of the World Heritage Committee. Seville, June 28, 2009.
The Sacred City of Caral-Supe represents the oldest civilization in the Americas, expressing the emergence of a socio-political state notable for its complexity and its impact on the development of settlements throughout the Supe Valley. Its early use of the quipu as a recording device is considered highly significant. The design of the city's architectural and spatial components is masterful, with monumental platform mounds and recessed circular patios expressing a consolidated state.
Caral is the best representation of late archaic architecture and urbanism in ancient Peruvian civilization. The platform mounds, sunken circular courts, and the urban plan, developed over centuries, influenced nearby settlements and later much of the Peruvian coast (Criterion (ii)). In the Supe Valley, it is the earliest known manifestation of civilization in the Americas; Caral is the most developed and complex settlement example of the formative period of civilization (the late archaic period) (Criterion (iii)). Caral is impressive in terms of design and complexity of its architectural and spatial elements, especially its monumental earthen platform mounds and sunken circular courts, features that dominated much of the Peruvian coast for many centuries (Criterion (iv)).
Integrity and authenticity. Caral remains remarkably intact largely due to its early abandonment and late discovery. Once abandoned, it appears to have been occupied only twice: once during the so-called Middle Formative or Early Horizon around 1000 BCE; and during the period of States and lordships between 900 and 1440 CE. Since both settlements were on the outskirts of the city, they did not disturb the ancient architectural structures. Furthermore, as the site lacked discoveries of gold and silver, there was little looting. The site is part of a cultural and natural landscape of great beauty, relatively intact. Most development has occurred in the lower valley areas near Lima (south of the site). The middle Supe Valley, where the site is located, is an area devoted to agriculture. Radiocarbon analysis performed by the Special Archaeological Project Caral-Supe (PEACS) at the Caral site confirms that the site's development can be dated between 3000 and 1800 BCE, specifically to the Late Archaic Period.
Management and protection requirements. The management system in place is adequate, and a modified management plan was implemented at the end of 2008, including regulations to ensure the property's preservation and conservation.
The Sacred City of Caral-Supe represents the oldest civilization in the Americas, expressing the emergence of a socio-political state notable for its complexity and its impact on the development of settlements throughout the Supe Valley. Its early use of the quipu as a recording device is considered highly significant. The design of the city's architectural and spatial components is masterful, with monumental platform mounds and recessed circular patios expressing a consolidated state.
Caral is the best representation of late archaic architecture and urbanism in ancient Peruvian civilization. The platform mounds, sunken circular courts, and the urban plan, developed over centuries, influenced nearby settlements and later much of the Peruvian coast (Criterion (ii)). In the Supe Valley, it is the earliest known manifestation of civilization in the Americas; Caral is the most developed and complex settlement example of the formative period of civilization (the late archaic period) (Criterion (iii)). Caral is impressive in terms of design and complexity of its architectural and spatial elements, especially its monumental earthen platform mounds and sunken circular courts, features that dominated much of the Peruvian coast for many centuries (Criterion (iv)).
Integrity and authenticity. Caral remains remarkably intact largely due to its early abandonment and late discovery. Once abandoned, it appears to have been occupied only twice: once during the so-called Middle Formative or Early Horizon around 1000 BCE; and during the period of States and lordships between 900 and 1440 CE. Since both settlements were on the outskirts of the city, they did not disturb the ancient architectural structures. Furthermore, as the site lacked discoveries of gold and silver, there was little looting. The site is part of a cultural and natural landscape of great beauty, relatively intact. Most development has occurred in the lower valley areas near Lima (south of the site). The middle Supe Valley, where the site is located, is an area devoted to agriculture. Radiocarbon analysis performed by the Special Archaeological Project Caral-Supe (PEACS) at the Caral site confirms that the site's development can be dated between 3000 and 1800 BCE, specifically to the Late Archaic Period.
Management and protection requirements. The management system in place is adequate, and a modified management plan was implemented at the end of 2008, including regulations to ensure the property's preservation and conservation.