http://www.sprword.com/videos/caralpyramids/One of my favorite documentaries...absolutely astounding from beginning to end...Enjoy.
A Peruvian site previously reported as the oldest city in the Americas actually is a much larger complex of as many as 20 cities with huge pyramids and sunken plazas sprawled over three river valleys, researchers report.
Construction started about 5,000 years ago — nearly 400 years before the first pyramid was built in Egypt — at a time when most people around the world were simple hunters and gatherers, a team from Northern Illinois University and Chicago's Field Museum reports in today's issue of the journal Nature.
The society and its people — known only as the Andeans — persisted in virtually the same form for 1,200 years before they were overrun by more warlike neighbors. That is the longest time any known ancient civilization survived, according to archaeologist Jonathan Haas of the Field, who led the expedition. The results greatly expand understanding of how complex states began in the Americas. They found no evidence of military fortifications or weapons. But they did find cotton, fishing nets, and cocaine.
2 comments:
"Construction started about 5,000 years ago — nearly 400 years before the first pyramid was built in Egypt — at a time when most people around the world were simple hunters and gatherers..."
This is the part I just can't get my head around for these ancient civilizations. How did they do it?
They must have become farmers at some time, but South America lacked an abundance of plants that could be domesticated. Did they have that large of a population that could provide the manpower? Or was it just that they had such a long time to accomplish their goal?
"But they did find cotton, fishing nets, and cocaine."
Maybe it was the cocaine???
Well, according to the documentary, Caral flourished because they traded cotton for fish. They also found evidence of fruit as well, but yeah I know what you mean. It's simply astounding their the feats they accomplished. Also I think, Yes, they did have a long time to complete their goal...but they were also not at war. It's amazing what a civilization can accomplish during peace time and with the right conditions. But for me there are two thought-provoking concepts in this documentary...first, why were Pyramids ubiquitous throughout Central America, Egypt, S. America, Asia, and most recently, Bosnia... http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4912040.stm Another interesting point is that groups such as republicans have always gone by the notion that we are a war society...we have always been at war and therefore should prepare for it's inevitability...In Peru, however, here's a society that existed for 1200 years without war. So it defies their logic. Anyway, cool documentary...very worthy of lengthy discussion...cheers John.
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