Context: The Norte Chico civilization (also Caral or Caral-Supe civilization) was a complex pre-Columbian era society that included as many as 30 major population centers in what is now the Norte Chico region of north-central coastal Peru. The civilization flourished between the fourth and second millennia BC, with the formation of the first city generally dated to around 3500 BC, at Huaricanga, in the Fortaleza area. It is from 3200 BC onward that large-scale human settlement and communal construction become clearly apparent, which lasted until a period of decline around 1800 BC. Since the early 21st century, it has been established as the oldest known civilization in the Americas., The Pre-Columbian era incorporates all period subdivisions in the history and prehistory of the Americas before the appearance of significant European influences on the American continents, spanning the time of the original settlement in the Upper Paleolithic period to European colonization during the Early Modern period., Peru , officially the Republic of Peru, is a country in western South America. It is bordered in the north by Ecuador and Colombia, in the east by Brazil, in the southeast by Bolivia, in the south by Chile, and in the west by the Pacific Ocean. Peru is an extremely biodiverse country with habitats ranging from the arid plains of the Pacific coastal region in the west to the peaks of the Andes mountains vertically extending from the north to the southeast of the country to the tropical Amazon Basin rainforest in the east with the Amazon river., Caral, or Caral-Chupacigarro, was a large settlement in the Supe Valley, near Supe, Barranca Province, Peru, some north of Lima. Caral is the most ancient city of the Americas and a well-studied site of the Norte Chico civilization., Huaricanga is the earliest city of the Norte Chico civilization . It existed around 3500 BCE and was the oldest city in the Americas and one of the earliest cities in the world . `` This Late Archaic site is located in the Fortaleza Valley on Peru 's north central coast . It is 14 miles inland from the Pacific Ocean . The site covers a total area of 100 hectares , and is the largest Late Archaic construction in the Norte Chico region . Currently , the Pativilca - Huaraz highway divides the site . The current site consists of two mounds , the larger of which measures roughly two football fields in length . Near this larger mound were two standing stones , known as huancas , which are believed to hold some sacred ceremonial purpose . Huaricanga also served as a religious center , and residents would persuade fishermen and inhabitants of the nearby highlands to participate in seasonal rituals . Additionally , there is a third , U shaped mound located above the river floodplain at Huaricanga . It is known as El Castillo de Huaricanga , and judging from the ceramics found at the site , it was from the Initial Period ( 1800 - 900 BC ) . During this time and during the Early Horizon Period ( 900 - 200 BC ) , El Castillo de Huaricanga served as a stop for travelers on their way to the major religious site of Chavin de Huantar . The site of Huaricanga has been excavated in 2003 and 2007 by PANC ( Proyecto Arqueológico Norte Chico ) . The 2007 excavation uncovered evidence of a structure that consisted of a two level floor , a surrounding bench , a central fire pit , and niched walls . This indicates that the temple was constructed in the Mito architectural tradition , which is also seen in the Peruvian highlands . However , using radiocarbon dating , the structure has been confirmed to be constructed around 2560 BC. This means that this temple predates even the earliest known examples of the Mito tradition . A range of samples was tested , including mixed plant fibers , bag fibers , and charcoal . The land in and around Huaricanga consists mainly of rock and dirt , with very few trees . The climate is generally dry . The ancient people of Huaricanga were completely dependent on irrigation for the growth of their crops . Some experts theorize that an increased frequency of the weather phenomenon El Niño worsened fishing conditions , driving people inland towards sites such as Huaricanga ., Subject: huaricanga, Relation: instance_of, Options: (A) brazil (B) city (C) civilization (D) complex (E) country (F) era (G) highway (H) history (I) human settlement (J) ocean (K) period (L) province (M) rainforest (N) republic (O) river (P) scale (Q) settlement (R) society (S) time
Output: human settlement