Sechin Bajo

This article is about the archaeological site. For the civilization it belonged to, see Casma/Sechin culture.
Sechin Bajo
Archaeological site of Sechin Bajo overlooking the Sechin River Valley.[1]
Map showing location in Peru
Map showing location in Peru
Shown within Peru
LocationAncash, Peru
Coordinates9°27′53″S 78°15′54″W / 9.46472°S 78.26500°W / -9.46472; -78.26500
TypeSettlement
History
Foundedc. 3500 BCE; 5524 years years ago
Abandonedc. 1000 BCE[2]
CulturesCasma/Sechin culture
Site notes
ConditionIn ruins

Sechin Bajo is a large archaeological site with ruins dating from 3500 BCE to 1300 BCE, making it not only one of the oldest centers of civilization in the Western Hemisphere, but also one of the oldest civilization centers on earth. Sechin Bajo is located in the valley of the Sechin River, about 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) from the Pacific Ocean and about 330 kilometres (210 mi) northwest of Lima, Peru. Sechin Bajo is one ruin among many located in close proximity to each other in the valleys of the Casma and Sechin Rivers.

In 2008, a German and Peruvian archaeological team, headed by Peter Fuchs, announced that a circular plaza, 10–12 meters (11–13 yd) in diameter and constructed of rocks and rectangular adobe bricks had been found at Sechin Bajo. Radiocarbon dating indicated that plaza was constructed in 3500 BCE. A nearby 2 meter-tall (2 yards) frieze was dated at 3600 BCE.[3] The plaza and the frieze are the two oldest examples of monumental architecture discovered thus far in the Americas. Sechin Bajo may contend with sites of the Norte Chico/Caral–Supe civilization, most notably the Sacred City of Caral-Supe as the oldest urban settlement of the Americas.[4]

  1. ^ Fuchs, Peter R.; Patzchke, Renate; Yenque, German; and Briceno, Jesus (2009), "Del Arcaico Tardio al Formativo Temprano: Las Investigaciones en Sechin Bajo, Valle de Casma", Boletin de Arqueologia PUCP, No. 13, p. 59
  2. ^ Pozorski, Shelia and Pozorski, Thomas, (2006) Early Settlement and Subsistence in the Casma Valley, Iowa City: University of Iowa Press, pp 6-7. Downloaded from Project MUSE
  3. ^ "Ancient ceremonial plaza found in Peru" ANDREW WHALEN, Associated Press Writer, [1]
  4. ^ "Oldest Urban Site in the Americas Found, Experts Claim", National Geographic News, Feb 26, 2008, [2], accessed 20 Jan 2016