Caral is located at 158 km north of the city of Lima. Caral is one of 18 settlements identified in the valley. Covering an area of around 65 hectares, the city features a series of complexes such as the Great Pyramid, the Amphitheater Pyramid and the Residential Quarters of the Elite.
Caral has been considered the oldest city in the Americas. Its ancient inhabitants leave an interesting legacy in their flutes. Created from condor and pelican bones, the first 32 flutes found at the archaeological site represented one of the biggest surprises produced here. In 2001, researchers held the Archaeo Musicological Research Workshop for the flutes of Caral, in a bid to reproduce the sound of each one of them, just as the ancient dwellers might have heard them in 3000 BC.
Today, Dr. Ruth Shady, the head archaeologist in charge of the project, travels each weekend to Caral to continue with excavation work. Dr. Shady leaves the city and her office at the Museum of Archaeology & Anthropology at the Cultural Center in Lima's San Marcos University to continue with her investigation into the past. |