Urban design of the Initial Formative period

Two areas can be identified in the urban layout: a core and a marginal area. In the Core Area the buildings are distributed in two halves: Upper Caral and Lower Caral and sub-complexes of buildings, with matching facades in each one; this reveals a prior planning of the space to be built. In each half there are different types of building:

In Upper Caral we find the larger public and residential buildings of the city: seven major and minor public pyramidal buildings, two of them with sunken circular plazas, residential complex, sub-complexes and units, all articulated in three main streets and other secondary streets, which converge in three open public spaces.

Lower Caral has only one public building of extended architecture, with a circular plaza, nine minor public buildings, residential complex, sub-complexes and units, as well as workshops and streets.

From the city distribution and its components’ features we may infer some aspects of the social organization, social stratification and the existence of hierarchies among the population, divided in workers, specialists and authorities.

Houses of common people, who comprised the largest part of Caral’s population were located in the periphery of both halves of the city.

Around the public buildings we find the houses of authorities and officials, as well as residential complexes where specialists and servants lived. In public buildings and elite residences we observe an architectonic design, refined building techniques and selected materials, unlike other houses and those in the outskirts. Besides, public buildings have an organized distribution with central spaces or plazas (Shady 2008: 72).

Multi-functional buildings

Religion, a significant component of the worldview of ancient Andean societies, is evident in the construction of pyramidal buildings. These are found in different sizes and, in each of the main ones there is an altar with a fire pit and underground ventilation ducts. Sociopolitical, administrative and working activities were conducted there in combination with religious ceremonies and rites. Furthermore, these buildings had symbolic roles, since social meanings were expressed on them and they served for cultural identification and social cohesion.

MAJOR PUBLIC

PYRAMIDAL BUILDING

B1, “LA CANTERA (The Quarry) PYRAMIDAL BUILDING”

MINOR PUBLIC PYRAMIDAL BUILDING

C4, “RESIDENTIAL AND PUBLIC BUILDING TO ACCESS THE CORE AREA”

MAJOR PUBLIC PYRAMIDAL BUILDING C1, “CENTRAL PYRAMIDAL BUILDING”

MAJOR PUBLIC PYRAMIDAL BUILDING WITH SUNKEN CIRCULAR PLAZA E1, “MAJOR PYRAMIDAL BIULDING”

LOWER HALF

UPPER HALF

BUILDING E2-E3, “DUAL BUILDING”

MINOR PUBLIC PYRAMIDAL BUILDING G1, “MINOR PYRAMIDAL BUILDING”

MAJOR PYRAMIDAL BUILDING H1, “LA GALERÍA (The Gallery) PYRAMIDAL BUILDING”

MAJOR PUBLIC BUILDING OF EXTENDED ARCHITECTURE WITH PLAZA L , “AMPHITEATER TEMPLE”

MINOR PUBLIC BUILDING M

MINOR PUBLIC BUILDING K

MINOR PUBLIC PYRAMIDAL BUILDING H1, ,

RESIDENTIAL UNIT X5

RESIDENTIAL UNIT X4

RESIDENTIAL UNIT X1