Archaeologists excavating the Chupacigarro archaeological site in Peru discovered a previously unknown quadrangular pyramidal structure, designated as Sector F, covering an area of 38.59 hectares. The find is located one kilometer west of the Sacred City of Caral in the Supe Valley, according to Panamericana TV.
Recent explorations allowed researchers to identify the new pyramidal building, which was initially concealed by dense vegetation, including dry huarango trees. According to La República, the removal of the vegetation revealed the building's stone walls, forming at least three superimposed platforms.
The structure features stone walls marked by large stones placed vertically, known as huancas, which serve both structural and ceremonial functions. According to Enikos, these huancas indicate the corners of the building and the central staircase leading to its summit. The central staircase is an architectural feature typical of the Caral civilization.
The discovery was led by Dr. Ruth Shady and an interdisciplinary team from the Caral archaeological zone. "Research on the newly discovered structure will help the team from the Caral Archaeological Zone better understand the full urban layout of the Chupacigarro settlement," the Peruvian Ministry of Culture said in a press statement, according to HeritageDaily.
Chupacigarro is located in a small ravine and, along with the Sacred City of Caral, is part of a larger system that encompasses several archaeological settlements in the Supe Valley, belonging to the Caral civilization, which existed in ancient pre-Hispanic Peru from 3000 to 1800 BCE.
According to Los Tiempos, the settlement features more than 12 structures, considered public or ceremonial, which are scattered and crown the tops of the small hills in the ravine, surrounding a central space.
Among the elements of Chupacigarro is a geoglyph in the profile of a human head designed in Sechín style. According to Deutsche Welle, the geoglyph measures 62.1 by 30.3 meters and is visible only from specific angles within the settlement. Enikos described that the geoglyph was traced with angular stones, with the face oriented to the east, the eye closed, the mouth open, and a representation of hair blown by the wind or of "blood" flowing from the head.
According to Panamericana TV, Chupacigarro served as a key point along a communication route linking the Supe Valley to the Huaura coast, facilitating trade and resource exchange. The settlement was strategically located in a small ravine, not visible from the valley, leading experts to suggest it may have been part of an extension of the Sacred City of Caral, perhaps linked to a more private or religious function.
Caral is a pre-Hispanic city considered a World Heritage site for housing the oldest civilization in America, approximately 5,000 years old. The city influenced later Andean cultures with its urban design and architectural innovations.
The article was written with the assistance of a news analysis system.