June
03
/ 2025
In a remarkable find that deepens our understanding of one of the world’s oldest civilizations, archaeologists working at the Era de Pando archaeological site in Peru’s Supe Valley have uncovered a 5,000-year-old “Fire Altar”, used for elite ceremonial practices by the Caral civilization. This discovery, announced by the Ministry of Culture, offers fresh insight into the ritual and political dynamics of Caral, often regarded as the oldest civilization in the Americas. Led by Dr. Ruth Shady, director of the Caral Archaeological Zone (ZAC), the excavation team found the altar situated beside the Major Pyramidal Public Building "C1", on the west side of the ancient complex. The newly discovered altar is a circular structure roughly 7 meters in diameter, accessed via
