C MIRAYA URBAN CENTER

Location

The Miraya archaeological settlement can be accessed taking the exit at Km 184 of the North Pan-American highway, and then continuing for 19 kilometers taking the road to Ámbar, towards the intersection that goes across the Supe Rover, and arrive in the site after 1 kilometer.

Political location:

Department: Lima

Province: Barranca

District: Supe

Geographical location:

Zone: 18S

Reference system: WGS84

UTM coordinates: 222 375.01 E

8 795 762.15 N

Average altitude: 350 m a. s. l.

Urban center surface: 33.90 Ha

Geographical Aspects

Miraya Urban Center is located in the middle section left bank of the Supe river, 2.5 kilometers to the west of the sacred city of Caral, surrounded by a chain of mountains. It was built on alluvial terraces from the northern area of the Miraya Mountain, which gave it its name.

Architectural components of the archaeological site were placed on the terraces and in the neighboring mountains of the valley.

Its residents used the lands of the valley, the water resources of the river and springs or puquios, as well as stones from quarries, abundant clay and fauna and flora of the riverside forest and the hills.

Background

Miraya archaeological site was declared National Cultural Heritage by National Director’s Resolution Nº 720/INC, dated August 1, 2002.

Carlos Williams and Manuel Merino registered the site. In 1984, Elzbieta Zechenter conducted excavations to obtain samples for radiocarbon dating and materials show- ing the ecology and diet of the site’s residents. Furthermore, Miraya urban center was described in the exploration carried out by Shady and her team between 1994 and 1995, as well as its features, similarities and differences in the built space designed and the several spaces comprising it, as compared with other settlements in the Supe valley.

The constant agricultural progress and the use of the archaeological site’s internal spaces to dehydrate products such as maize and paprika pepper and the barns built for livestock breeding have damaged the cultural heritage, and thus in June 2002 investigations were initiated in this settlement with monumental architecture to stop its destruction and disseminate its significance.