[Aztlan] Peru: Bandurria may rival Caral as oldest citadel in Americas

[daniel at elchicano.net]

(LIP-jl) -- A team of specialists headed by archaeologist 
Alejandro Chu has informed that structures found in 
Bandurria may be as old as structures found in Caral, Peru, 
deemed as the oldest citadel in the Americas.

image:
http://filer.livinginperu.com/news/img/bandurria.JPG

Located north of Lima, near the city of Huacho, the 
Bandurria archaeological center has been found to have 
similar structures as those found in Caral. Among the 
similarities are a circular plaza made with circular 
borders, and a ceremonial center made of clay, all in an 
asymmetrical style.

According to Andina News Agency, the age of these structures 
may go back as much as 4,500 years.

The structures posses items that come from a time that has 
not been studied profoundly in the Americas. Among the items 
found at the site is a set of villager's clothing, which 
scientists say may help shed light on the process of a 
people who evolved from a classless society into a 
civilization with hierarchies.

Another important artifact found at the site was a fish net 
made of cotton considered to be the oldest of its kind in 
America.

The site was recently discovered in 1970, thanks in large 
part to climatic changes that uncovered some of the 
structures. The archaeologist Rosa Fung was the first to 
study the site, which at the time was the home to a small 
group of settlers who have since relocated.