Socio-political organization and elite formation in the Caral-Supe tradition (c. 3000–1800 BCE)

Start

End

Jan 1, 3500 BCE

Huaricanga emerges as an early center

HuaricangaFortaleza Valley

Jan 1, 3100 BCE

Large-scale communal construction becomes widespread

Monumental Architecture

Jan 1, 3000 BCE

Initial village networks consolidate in river valleys

Supe ValleyIrrigated Agriculture

Jan 1, 3000 BCE

Monumental civic-ceremonial core at Caral develops

CaralCivic-Ceremonial Core

Jan 1, 2627 BCE

Early radiocarbon window for Caral’s urbanism

CaralRadiocarbon Dating

Jan 1, 2600 BCE

Recessed circular courts formalize public ritual

Recessed CourtsPublic Ritual

Jan 1, 2500 BCE

Cotton-based political economy supports elite leverage

Cotton EconomyExchange Networks

Jan 1, 2200 BCE

Influence spreads along the north-central Peruvian coast

North-Central CoastCultural Influence

Timeline

3500 BCE2123 BCE746 BCE6322009

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Authored by

Michael Carrico|Updated Apr 23, 2026

3500 BCE2123 BCE746 BCE6322009

Michael Carrico

Updated:Apr 23, 2026

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Library Norte Chico

Socio-political organization and elite formation in the Caral-Supe tradition (c. 3000–1800 BCE)

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Huaricanga emerges as an early center

Large-scale communal construction becomes widespread

Initial village networks consolidate in river valleys

Monumental civic-ceremonial core at Caral develops

Early radiocarbon window for Caral’s urbanism

Recessed circular courts formalize public ritual

Cotton-based political economy supports elite leverage

Influence spreads along the north-central Peruvian coast

Socio-political organization and elite formation in the Caral-Supe tradition (c. 3000–1800 BCE)

Huaricanga emerges as an early center

Large-scale communal construction becomes widespread

Initial village networks consolidate in river valleys

Monumental civic-ceremonial core at Caral develops

Early radiocarbon window for Caral’s urbanism

Recessed circular courts formalize public ritual

Cotton-based political economy supports elite leverage

Regional network of major centers peaks in Supe system

Influence spreads along the north-central Peruvian coast

Late Archaic decline and center abandonment accelerates

Limited later reoccupation occurs at Caral outskirts

Caral-Supe radiocarbon chronology published in Science

Sacred City of Caral-Supe inscribed by UNESCO