Bandurria, Peru

The site is located near the Pacific coast, in the area called Playa Chica at kilometer 141 of the Panamericana Norte highway.

Archaeological sites belonging to the Late Archaic period had been identified previously to the north, but Bandurria was prior to them chronologically.

The Bandurria Archaeological Project, led by Alejandro Chu, uncovered a section of a monument built with boulders and mortar.

They have also established that this was an urban center distinct from the monumental sites of the Norte Chico civilization, on the north central coast of Peru.

The sector featuring monumental architecture was first thought to be a natural formation made up of low rocky hills.

This is older than Caral, the more famous site of the Norte Chico civilization in the River Supe Valley to the north.

[2] Bandurria has architecture similar to that of Caral and several other sites in the Supe Valley, featuring a sunken circular plaza and stairways.

Students from the Faculty of Management and Tourism of the Jose Faustino Sanchez Carrion National University of Huacho have also contributed to the preservation efforts.