The Lost Pyramids of Caral. 2/5

The Lost Pyramids of Caral.

Caral dates from 2,600 BC making it one of the earliest known civilisations on Earth The magnificent ancient city of pyramids at Caral in Peru hit the headlines in 2001. The site is a thousand years older than the earliest known civilisation in the Americas and, at 2,627 BC, is as old as the pyramids of Egypt. Many now believe it is the fabled missing link of archaeology - a 'mother city'. If so, then these extraordinary findings could finally answer one of the great questions of archaeology: why did humans become civilised?

The mother of all cities

For over a century, archaeologists have been searching for what they call a mother city. Civilisation began in only six areas of the world: Egypt, Mesopotamia, India, China, Peru and Central America. In each of these regions people moved from small family units to build cities of thousands of people. They crossed the historic divide, one of the great moments in human history. Why? To find the answer archaeologists needed to find a mother city - the first stage of city-building.

Civilisation through conflict

They couldn't find one anywhere. Everywhere this first stage seemed destroyed or built over. And so, instead, scientists developed a number of theories. Some said it was because of the development of trade, others that it was irrigation. Some even today believe it was all because of aliens. Gradually an uneasy consensus emerged. The key force common to all civilisations was warfare.

The theory was that only the fear of war could motivate people to give up the simple life and form complex societies. To prove it, archaeologists still had to find a city from that very first stage of civilisation. If it showed signs of warfare, then the theory had to be true.

Peruvian archaeologist, Ruth ShadyWhen archaeologist Ruth Shady discovered her 5,000 year old city of pyramids in the Peruvian desert, all eyes were on the New World. Ruth's extraordinary city, known as Caral, is so much older than anything else in South America that it is a clear candidate to be the mother city. It also is in pristine condition. Nothing has been built on it at all. Instead laid out before the world is an elaborate complex of pyramids, temples, an amphitheatre and ordinary houses.

Make love not war

Crucially, there is not the faintest trace of warfare at Caral; no battlements, no weapons, no mutilated bodies. Instead, Ruth's findings suggest it was a gentle society, built on commerce and pleasure. In one of the pyramids they uncovered beautiful flutes made from condor and pelican bones. They have also found evidence of a culture that took drugs and perhaps aphrodisiacs. Most stunning of all, they have found the remains of a baby, lovingly wrapped and buried with a precious necklace made of stone beads.

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• lost
• pyramid
• caral
• peru
• mexico
• inca
• aztec
• maya
• native
• indiands
• america
• south
• tomb
• mystery
• ancient
• civilization
• culture
• art
• history
• archaeology
• science
• ufo
• god
• technology
• viracocha
• montezuma
• equador
• cusco
• antigua
• tv
• media

[avrokneksok]

Why did this city succumb? One word. Greed.

[Ziggurathss]

@avrokneksok like most of great civilisations decadence comes before the fall

[avrokneksok]

@Ziggurathss

We are watching it happen again as we speak. Day by day, the great nations witters and the bees busy creating the next hive, they are moving to their next beehive where a new order will arise.

[Ziggurathss]

@avrokneksok - yet there is more collective consciousness, awareness.

It's a start

[zogzogable]

What modern scholars are afraid to admit in western culture pertaining to civilization is there is no "developement in civiliation" just a actual "decline" or "deterioration" of....

[kimokamal5]

@avrokneksok The City is just a bigger version of the beehive , we r not more advanced than bees really, if u think about!

[kimokamal5]

Fuck the Spaniards and the Brits, they destroyed mighty civilizations and killed millions wherever they went in the search for gold, that yellow illusive metal!

[Engineer245]

Since the begining of of human exitance there have been those that have been greedy and willing to murder others to take what the others have worked to create. Those that rose to leadership through a personal drive to live on the sweat equity of others. Even Hitler was driven to raid the coffers of other sicieties to take and take and take. Do to the lazyness the other societies are enslaved to do their bidding. PURE EVIL ! ! !

[mohan0128]

@ThePhantomRailroads According to accepted studies - civilization began in five locations. I believe it is stated here too. The question is - what prompted people to gather together in such large populations to form cities? I think that some deeper study could provide us with fascinating answers - and perhaps wisdom.

[Ziggurathss]

@ThePhantomRailroads thats because of the missing link my friend! meanwhile we have to keep on investigating the past to understand today and before we challenge tomorrow!

[1973mazdarx4coupe]

my guinea pig just gave birth to 3 beautiful big babies ! watch the video ! justin bieber made the pyramids, all of them !

[avrokneksok]

@Ziggurathss

Lets make it right this time. I hope we rid ourselves of the serpent men that put a spell on humanity once and for all. That's my new years wish for 2011.