Caral: Oldest City in the Americas?
7/16/202658 min
Long before the age of the Inca and Maya, a remarkable city once flourished on the coast of modern Peru. Founded more than five thousand years ago, the sacred city of Caral is home to monumental pyramids, lavish temples and one of the world's earliest urban societies.
Tristan Hughes is joined by Jason Nesbitt to uncover the story of this remarkable Mesoamerican settlement. How did this ancient city emerge in the arid Supe Valley? What do its pyramids and plazas reveal about life 5,000 years ago? And is Caral truly the oldest city in the Americas?
See photos of the Sacred City of Caral-Supe here
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Presented by Tristan Hughes. Audio editor is Aidan Lonergan. The producer is Joseph Knight. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.
All music courtesy of Epidemic Sounds
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First 90 secondsTristan Hughes· Host0:00
Ever wondered why the Romans were defeated in the Teutoburg Forest? What secrets lie buried in prehistoric Ireland? Or what made Alexander truly great? With a subscription to History Hit, you can explore our ancient past alongside the world's leading historians and archeologists. You'll also unlock hundreds of hours of original documentaries with a brand new release every single week, covering everything from the ancient world to World War II. Just visit historyhit.com/subscribe. Did you know that the ancient world's greatest monster killer, well, he was also a man who left death and destruction all around him wherever he went? From the snake-filled crib at Thebes to the impossible labors that took him across the ancient Greek world, Heracles, or Hercules if you prefer the Roman version, well, he's one of the most extraordinary figures in myth, a hero whose life was as thrilling as it was brutal. I'm Tristan Hughes, and I'm thrilled to be bringing Heracles' story to Australia this August on the Ancients Live Tour. I'm going to be joined by the brilliant Alastair Blanchard, Professor of Classics and Ancient History, and together we're going to dig into the myths, the geography, and the archeology behind the labors, from the Nemean Lion and the Hydra to Troy and the tragic end of Greece's greatest hero. Now, tickets are on sale.