Source: CCTV.com

10-30-2008 09:28

Caral, an ancient city in Peru is becoming popular with tourists. The city dates back about 5000 years, 1500 years ahead of other populations on the American continent.

Caral, an ancient city in Peru is becoming popular with  tourists. The city dates back about 5000 years, 1500 years  ahead of other populations on the American continent.

Caral is a desert city built by the first civilization in the Americas. Archaeologists at the ancient, wind-swept ruins are pressing to make it one of Peru's top tourist attractions.

Located about a three-hour car ride north of Lima, they hope to make it the second largest tourist attraction in the country, following Machu Picchu. The world famous Machu Picchu draws half a million visitors a year.

Crews have made scores of discoveries in 14 years. They have unearthed pyramids, an amphitheater and plazas, some of which date back 5,000 years.

Ruth Shady, archaelogoist, said, "Whoever constructed the building had a plan with a design for the craft-work. While constructing it they were able to decorate the walls of the building, which demonstrates more complexity in the engineering."

Shady recently petitioned for the project to be added to UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites, like Machu Picchu.

Ruth Shady said, "Caral was 1500 years ahead of other populations on the American continent. It was alone and this is interesting as a laboratory of comparison because we can see what we have in common with the old continent, and how we are different."