When most people think about Peru, they think about the Incas - just like people associate Mexico with Mayans. But if you travel around Peru, you will see that there were other interesting cultures that left their mark on the country.
Caral is an archaeological site where the remains of the main city of the Caral civilization are found. It is 182 kilometers north of Lima. It is estimated to be about 5000 years old and it is considered the oldest city in America and one of the oldest in the world. No other site has been found with such a diversity of monumental buildings or different ceremonial and administrative functions in the Americas as early as Caral. It has been declared a Humanity Cultural Heritage site by UNESCO.
Huaca Pullcana
The Lima culture developed on the central coast, between the valleys of Chancay and Lurín, in the period from 200 to 700 AD, contemporary with the societies, also coastal, Moche in the north and Nasca in the south. The pyramid of Huaca Pucllana, within the city of Lima, was in in its final stage, between 400 and 700 AD, when an unprecedented growth took place, especially in the Rímac valley.
The Chavin culture developed in the northern Andean highlands of Peru from 900 BC to 200 BC. It extended its influence to other civilizations along the coast. the best-known archaeological site for the Chavín culture is Chavín de Huántar, located in the Andean highlands of the present-day Ancash Region. It is believed to have been built around 900 BC and was the religious and political center of the Chavín people. It has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Chavin culture developed in the northern Andean highlands of Peru from 900 BC to 200 BC. It extended its influence to other civilizations along the coast. the best-known archaeological site for the Chavín culture is Chavín de Huántar, located in the Andean highlands of the present-day Ancash Region. It is believed to have been built around 900 BC and was the religious and political center of the Chavín people. It has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Huaca del Luna
If you go further North, around Trujillo and Chiclayo, you can see evidence of cultures like the Moche and Chimu. For instance, the site of Tucume was a major regional center, maybe even the capital of the successive occupations of the area by the Lambayeque/Sican (800-1350 AD), Chimú (1350–1450 AD) and Inca (1450–1532 AD). Near Trujillo, the Temples of the Sun and Moon were built by the Moche Culture in around 500 AD.
East of Chiclayo you have the Chachapoyan culture - the "People of the Clouds". The main site for visitors is the fortress of Kuelap, but there are many more sites to see and many that are unexcavated.
In the desert area south of Lima, in the vicinity of Ica, you find remnants of the Paracas culture (c. 900 BC– 400 AD). These people wrapped the mummified corpses of their deceased, along with funeral offerings, in embroidered cloaks, which are among the finest examples of the art of textile making. The multicolored designs on these textiles bear a definite relationship to those of painted pottery of the later Nazca culture (200 BC - 600 AD).
East of Chiclayo you have the Chachapoyan culture - the "People of the Clouds". The main site for visitors is the fortress of Kuelap, but there are many more sites to see and many that are unexcavated.
In the desert area south of Lima, in the vicinity of Ica, you find remnants of the Paracas culture (c. 900 BC– 400 AD). These people wrapped the mummified corpses of their deceased, along with funeral offerings, in embroidered cloaks, which are among the finest examples of the art of textile making. The multicolored designs on these textiles bear a definite relationship to those of painted pottery of the later Nazca culture (200 BC - 600 AD).
Sillustani funeral tower
Around Lake Titicaca / Puno, such as at at Sillustani, where most of funerary towers called CHULLPAS date from the Inca occupation in the 15th century, there are also burial towers of the Aymara-speaking Colla culture, as well as from the Pukara and Tiwanaku cultures.
There are so many different tribes in the Amazon that I'm not even going to get into that. Because of the jungle, there's not much to see in the way of ancient ruins or artifacts there anyway.
So, as you can see, if you are interested in experiencing various cultures, there are many options in Peru.
There are so many different tribes in the Amazon that I'm not even going to get into that. Because of the jungle, there's not much to see in the way of ancient ruins or artifacts there anyway.
So, as you can see, if you are interested in experiencing various cultures, there are many options in Peru.
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