Caral, located in the Supe Valley of Peru, is the site of the oldest known civilization in the Americas, dating back over 5,000 years. Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Caral is best known for its impressive pyramid-shaped structures, which form part of a large, complex urban center that flourished around the same time as ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia. The Great Pyramid of Caral, rising over 28 meters (about 92 feet), is the most prominent feature of the site and served ceremonial and administrative functions. The city also includes sunken circular plazas, residential zones, and evidence of sophisticated planning, including irrigation systems and amphitheaters for public gatherings.

What makes Caral particularly remarkable is the absence of warfare-related artifacts, suggesting that its society was built on commerce, agriculture, and religious leadership rather than conquest. Archaeological finds include musical instruments, quipu (an ancient recording device), and remains of cotton and trade goods, revealing the city's economic and cultural complexity. As one of the earliest examples of urban planning in the Americas, Caral is a crucial site for understanding the origins of Andean civilization and demonstrates that complex societies in South America developed independently from those in the Old World.