The Norte Chico and the Peruvian Preceramic

Hi! Peruvian archaeologist here. Just a few notes: 1. We're still not sure to use the term "city" in this moment of time, let alone "civilization". We have to take into account that the Caral-Supe archaeological program was based on the first published papers made by R. Shady from the early 2000s, but then most of the information has been just accesible internally and not published. Also, take into account that none of the monuments built there were constructed at the same time, and just a few were used simultaneously. 2. Nowadays there is a discussion about how we periodify prehispanic history here in the central Andes, because the term "Preceramic" still carries the ideological baggage of the Western way of periodify (aka Paleolithic, Mesolithic, Neolithic, etc), in other words, using mainly technology as a quick way to infer societal development. Another way of seeing it is the periodification proposed by L. G. Lumbreras. Check out Peter Kaulicke's work in his book about the "Formative" period. 3. A way to understand the origin of ceramic is by the study of the "chiselled gourds". 4. Kotosh and El Paraiso weren't abandoned by the 1800 BCE, but rather reformed and expanded in size, complexity and estructures by that era. Kotosh was occupied even during Chavin times. 5. The destruction of El Paraiso only was done in one of the later mounds built after the original "Preceramic" stone one. 6. Some of the U-shaped buildings that will thirve in later centuries in the central coast of Peru began the first stages of their construction by the 2500 BCE. 7. Another point to take into account is that Andean prehispanic construction, during usage, was like a "onion" way: with layers built one over the other. The size/monumentality of most of the archaeological sites, mostly during this early periods, as seen today, are just result of a all the final layers put together. Sorry for the long text. Thanks for the video!

I know that's not the purpose of the video, but I would like to point out how carefully developed foods by these civilizations have saved millions of people from starvation in Europe, allowing that continent to experience gigantic population growth and hunger reduction. This is an important thing that deserves more attention. Excellent channel, champ, keep it up!

I’m so happy to have found this channel.

"Norte Chico" literally means "small north", and is a colloquial and vague term we use for the mid-north area. Where starts and ends the small north? We don't know. Thats why we prefer the term Caral-Supe, since it's more precise.

Something to remember is that this civilization was a contemporary of Old Kingdom Egypt and the other first civilizations of the Near East and Far East.

This is really good! I'm so glad I found this as no one ever covers history in the Americas – except for the Maya, Inca, and Aztecs of course. This is very high quality and I can't wait to see more.

17:22 "Screw this town, we're out!... But before we go, fetch me the black paint"

Your channel is to me what the channel "history with Cy" is to the Near East, Egypt and Arabia. It's simply great to learn about the achievements of human beings all over the world! Thank you sooo much!

Two things missing here: a) Norte Chico is also the place where the first musical instruments were found, flutes made of bird bones; b) So far the area comprises 32 sites, of which 14 achieved full city status (= town with division of labour), the oldest being Huaricanga. Otherwise, excellent video.

Could you do a video on the Mississippian Civilization. More specifically, on the way trade was conducted during the period in North America. I'm a high school student but I did a program at Columbia over the summer and therefore had access to their recourses. I was doing some research on my own on the topic and even though I gave up after a few days of wasting time looking through books in the library, it did seem like the trade routes spanned the entirety of central north america.

Love your videos! I’ve been travelling to Peru for a month or more, each year for over 15 years. I’ve been to these sites, and have been researching this history, so that I can teach my children their Peruvian history and heritage. These videos are by far the most informative, researched and up to date I’ve ever found. Thank you so much for this Oasis in a desert of ancient aliens and crazy alternative history groups.

*Norte Chico!!*🎶🎶🎶

Muchas gracias! Vivo cerca al Norte chico, y he estado allí antes, pero visitarlo con este mejor panorama será estupendo! Saludos!

it also ought to be remember too that up to the time of this civilization's beginning, humans hadn't been in that geographical area for nearly as long as humans had been in the "classical" cradle of civilization in the fertile crescent. The relative brevity of time humans had been in the coastal/mountainous area of Peru underscores the rapidity of their development of a sophisticated culture, architecture and agriculture.

I just discovered this channel, thank you so much for this. Whenever it comes to the pre European Americas, nearly every good video is about the Aztec, Maya, or Inca. It’s refreshing to find a good video on Norte Chico. I don’t know what else you plan on covering, but I’d love some videos about the Iroquois at some point, there’s not enough about them on YouTube. Same with the Tarascan’s, who are constantly overshadowed by their Aztec neighbours

American civilizations in Mexico and the Andes have serious continuity - I suppose the isolation can do that.

Hace pocos años se han realizado importantes descubrimientos en el extremo norte del Perú y sureste del Ecuador, lo que por los valles en que se asienta, se denomina cultura Chinchipe-Mayo-Marañon. Ésta es contemporánea de las vecinas cultura Valdivia (costa del Ecuador) y Chavin (Perú). Un hallazgo interesante es que se hallaron pruebas de la domesticación del cacao lo cual retrotae ésta a 4500 años atrás, ésto es 1,500 antes que en Mesoamérica, con la cultura Olmeca. Sería importante que realizaran un vídeo acerca de esta nueva cultura

Hi there. I’m Fernando Neuenschwander grandson of Peruvian Explorer Dr. Carlos Neuenschwander. Great video! I would like to discuss indirect contact with Central America with you. Cheers!

Astounding work. There's something almost magical learning about ancient civilizations and how people used to live. Looking forward to learning more from you in the future!

I am late to discover your videos, but I am impressed. One item your research may not have made clear to you is that the Caral-Supe civilization (Norte Chico) is contemporaneous with the Holocene wet phase. The Holocene wet phase gets most of its press from the African humid period, but at the same time there was markedly higher global rain fall in regions that are now some of the driest places on Earth. This period also marks the melting of the last vestiges of the peak glaciation, which swelled rivers and streams for a length of time that is difficult to nail down precisely. As this water entered the ocean, vast amounts of formerly exposed and likely inhabited areas of the continental shelf caused a retreat from low-lying areas. In some places, the sea encroachment came so suddenly that some populations were isolated and likely vanish from the historical record, such as with Doggerland. These details have long been excluded from the thinking in archaeological circles and this omission has long hindered our understanding of the prehistory of places like the Atacama Desert, the Sahara, and the Early Neolithic Mediterranean. In coming years, I suspect that, like Doggerland has been slowly gained acceptance in academe, a better understanding of the Holocene wet phase will reshape out understanding of the remote past of Andean civilizations.