In the dry Supe Valley, north of Lima on the coast of Peru, a society built monumental pyramids and sunken circular plazas at Caral and nearby towns from about 3000 BC to 1800 BC, contemporary with Egypt's pyramids. Caral, with six large platform mounds, was settled about 2600 BC by a few thousand people living on fishing and irrigated cotton, squash and beans. There is no pottery and no evidence of warfare, which challenges the idea that civilisations rose from grain and conflict. It is the oldest known city in the Americas, and 32 flutes carved from bird bone were found.
Before and after
- from c. 2,686 BCE to 2,613 BCEThird Dynasty of Egypt
- c. 2,640 BCEConstruction of Pyramid of Djoser
- from c. 2,613 BCE to 2,498 BCEFourth Dynasty of Egypt
- from c. 2,600s BCE to 2,200s BCEBell beaker culture
- c. 2,601 BCECaral flourishes in the Norte Chico
- from c. 2,601 BCE to 1,901 BCEThe Indus Valley cities reach maturity
- c. 2,590 BCEConstruction of Red Pyramid
- c. 2,589 BCEConstruction of Dahshur
- 26th century BCEThe Great Sphinx
More in Civilizations & archaeology
- c. 1,274 BCEConstruction of Abu Simbel
- from 8th century BCE to 3rd centuryClassical antiquity
- from 206 BCE to 220 CEHan dynasty
- 200 BCEOrigins of Nazca Lines
- 19 BCEConstruction of Western Wall
- from 375 CE to 568 CEMigration Period
The era
This moment belongs to the Ancient civilizations (3,200 BCE to 500 CE), writing, cities and empires. You can also browse everything in the 27th century BCE.