Ruins of oldest civilisation in Americas prepared for tourists

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• published: 28 Jul 2015
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SHOTLIST 1. Wide shot ruins 2. Medium shot ruins 3. Close of ceremonial stone 4. Wide shot ceremonial square 5. Zoom out from ruins 6. Medium shot ruins 7. Pan archaeological site 8. Medium shot traditional ceremony 9. Wide shot ruins 10. SOUNDBITE: (Spanish) Ruth Shady, Archaeology Caral project: "Caral is the most ancient civilisation of Peru and America and changes the historic knowledge that we had about civilian development in our continent. The same is true for the development of a primary government state, of one centralised state, and knowledge production in science and technology that happened when civilisation appeared." 11. Pan archaeologist 12. SOUNDBITE: (Spanish) Ruth Shady, Archaeology Caral project: "The original culture of America has taken Caral as a symbol of reference because this site would prove to the world that the human beings in America had the same antiquity and capacity to create civilisation as in Europe or other places." 13. Medium shot ruins 14. Wide shot ruins 15. Pan ruins 16. Zoom out ruins STORYLINE The Americas oldest civilisation, Caral, will be opening it's doors to tourists after years of restoration. Caral developed almost simultaneously with the civilisations of Mesopotamia, Egypt, India and China. The archaeological site that houses the ancient city is situated in the Supe valley, Barranca province, Peru. Just under 200 kilometres north of Lima, Caral extends over 66 hectares, and consists of a nucleus and a peripheral area in the north-central area of Peru. Caral is considered to be the most outstanding settlement of all that have been identified on the American continent from 3000 to 2000 B.C. Now the Peruvian government is keen to promote its newly-discovered tourist treasure with the hope that the National Cultural Institute will declare Caral a national heritage site. Archaeologist Ruth Shady discovered the 5,000 year old pyramids, and led a careful restoration of the site in 1994. "Caral is the most ancient civilisation of Peru and America and changes the historic knowledge that we had about civilian development in our continent," According to Shady there is still work to be done to improve infrastructure in the area, though Peruvian authorities are working in setting up better security around the site to protect it against looting. Visitors are already starting to flock to the sacred city. Last year around 43,000 tourists visited the site. Caral boasts an elaborate complex of temples, amphitheatres and ordinary houses. The site is a thousand years older than the earliest known civilisations in the Americas and is as old as the pyramids in Egypt. Caral is regarded by many experts as being a clear candidate for what archaeologists call the 'mother city' - the first city created by smaller family units, marking a major step in civilisation. Caral has not the faintest trace of warfare, no battlements, no weapons, or mutilated bodies. Shady's findings suggest it was a gentle society, built on commerce and pleasure. Caral is expected to become one of the most important instruments for improving the self-esteem of Peruvians and an exceptional symbol of national identity. Keyword-tourism You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/1b9d5b857710a6d5b569040557f0879f Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork