A mysterious culture of great builders.
Who were the Caral-Supe?
Ancient Sumer and Ancient Egypt both flourished in the heart of the Middle East, but on the other side of the world, in South America, another civilization took form.
This maritime culture was centered around a network of cities on the coast of Peru. The Caral-Supe were skilled architects, constructing monumental pyramids from stone blocks. They also developed an advanced system of irrigation canals which allowed them to cultivate crops.
Despite their advanced level of development, very little is known about this ancient culture. They left no written records behind, which makes it difficult for historians to know who they were or how they lived. Archaeologists learn as much as they can from city ruins, but unless written sources emerge in the future, the Caral-Supe will always be shrouded in mystery.
Modern studies
The first signs of the Caral-Supe civilization were discovered in the 1940s, when ruins of a city were discovered in the Norte Chico region of Peru. Archaeologists were intrigued by the size and complexity of the ruined city, but could not determine how old it was or who had built it. It wasn’t until carbon dating techniques became much more widely available in the 21st century that researchers were able to accurately date the ruined city and understand its true significance.
The studies showed that the ruined city was truly ancient, and must have belonged to a forgotten culture as old as the Ancient Egyptians. Further studies uncovered additional ruins, including evidence of trade networks stretching across Peru and beyond. But there was still something missing – written sources – which made the culture hard to understand.
A lack of visual art
The lack of written Caral-Supe sources is compounded by a surprising lack of visual art. While other ancient civilizations painted images on pots and carved pictures into walls, the Caral-Supe created nothing of the kind. This makes it even harder to understand them – visual art is a useful window into ancient cultures, but for the Caral-Supe, that window is closed.
Some scholars have speculated that the Caral-Supe people were too focused on practicality to bother with artistic pursuits. They lived in a harsh, arid region, and may have focused on survival instead of spending time creating visual art.
But this theory is undermined by the presence of other Caral-Supe art forms. For example, musical instruments have been discovered made from pelican bone. They also made rich, elaborate textiles. Some historians have wondered whether these textiles once had pictures on them, only for the dye to fade away.
The origins of Caral-Supe
Historically, most ancient civilizations arose in rich, fertile regions, like the floodplains around a river. But the Caral-Supe civilization flourished in an arid environment, where the lack of rainfall should have made it difficult to sustain a large, urban population.
To combat this, the people developed a sophisticated system of irrigation canals that allowed them to collect rainwater and grow crops during drier periods. They also learned to exploit the coastline for fish and other marine resources.
By using these different techniques, the Caral-Supe turned this seemingly inhospitable region into a place where their people could thrive. The fact this civilization existed at all is a credit to their ingenuity and resourcefulness.
Pyramids and plazas
One thing that does survive of the Caral-Supe civilization is its impressive architecture, which often included large stone platforms and plazas.
The most famous of these is the Pirámide Mayor, a stepped pyramid that covers an area as large as several football fields. It was built between 4000 and 5000 years ago, making it at least as old as Egypt’s first pyramid, and maybe even older. It may have been used as an astronomical observatory, or a temple complex, but this is only speculation.
Archaeological evidence suggests that workers may have been paid in dried anchovies during construction projects such as the Pirámide Mayor. This indicates a sophisticated system of labor within Caral-Supe society – one that helped them to build large monuments despite their arid environment and limited resources.
The Staff God
In 2003, a single piece of visual art was discovered at a Caral-Supe site: a cartoonish figure carved roughly into the side of a gourd. This figure had a leering smile, as well as a hood and fangs.
Historians believe that this figure is an early depiction of the Staff God – a major deity among later South American cultures. If this were true, it would offer a valuable glimpse into Caral-Supe religion.
But other historians have argued that this figure is something else entirely. It has been speculated that the figure could represent some kind of priest or leader, or that it might be linked to ancestor worship. Unfortunately, the image is too ambiguous – it just opens up more questions.
Quipu knots
Amongst the various textiles which historians have discovered at Caral-Supe sites, there have been several examples of intricate knots known as quipu.
These knots may just have been decorative, but in later South American civilizations, similar knots were used to record information. Each thread would be knotted in a particular way which might represent a number, or abstract idea, exactly the same as a writing system.
Some researchers believe that the knots at Caral were used for a similar purpose, which would explain the absence of traditional writing – the Caral-Supe used knots to record information instead. Unfortunately, even if these knots are a form of writing, nobody knows how to read them.
Were the Caral-Supe peaceful?
There is one profoundly unique quality about the Caral-Supe civilization: historians are yet to find any evidence of warfare. There are no fortifications around their cities, and no mutilated bodies in their graves.
If the Caral-Supe really lived in peace, it would make them a rarity in the Ancient World. Many people believe that warfare is inevitable among human beings, but the Caral-Supe suggest otherwise.
This peaceful atmosphere may have been encouraged by religious beliefs. The Staff God, for example, was thought to represent social harmony. Alternatively, maybe the Caral-Supe were united in opposition to the hostile environment, and knew that a breakdown in cooperation would cause all of them to suffer.
The decline of Caral-Supe
Like so much else about the Caral-Supe, their decline is shrouded in mystery. It is possible that they were unable to sustain their population due to environmental changes such as drought and soil erosion, leading them to migrate in search of more fertile land.
This theory is supported by extensive canals found in regions north of Caral-Supe. These canals suggest that the Caral-Supe migrated there, and brought their knowledge of irrigation with them.
It has also been suggested that external forces could have played a role in the collapse of Caral-Supe. Neighboring peoples may have taken advantage of their peaceful nature, and launched an attack. However, there is no real evidence to support this theory. As things stand, a slow migration to more fertile lands is a more likely explanation.
The legacy of Caral-Supe
The Caral-Supe civilization left a lasting impression on South America, with its influence felt in many later civilizations. The Incas of Peru used quipu knots which resembled those of the Caral-Supe, while the Staff God may have been worshiped by both cultures, with religious beliefs passed down through generations.
However, the full impact of the Caral-Supe civilization is yet another thing which modern historians might never know for certain. We cannot know how they interacted with other cultures, or how their beliefs shaped those around them. All we can study are lumps of rubble and strips of faded cloth. These artifacts hint at a resilient society ahead of its time – but they never quite tell us the answers we long to know.
