Peru and China are embarking on a new archaeological collaboration, focusing on the 5,000-year-old Caral civilization. For the first time, a Chinese archaeological team is participating in a joint fieldwork project in South America.
Archaeological research in Peru is receiving international reinforcement. Chinese and Peruvian scientists will jointly investigate several sites of the Caral civilization. This collaboration is based on agreements signed on August 21, 2026.
Three Institutions Collaborate
The project involves the Institute of Archaeology of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, the Zona Arqueológica Caral of the Peruvian Ministry of Culture, and the Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos in Lima.
For China, this project is a premiere: it is the first joint archaeological fieldwork project of Chinese archaeologists in South America. The collaboration is intended to extend significantly beyond individual excavations.
What Will Be Investigated in Caral?
Chinese and Peruvian scientists plan extensive investigations at sites of the Caral civilization. These include archaeological surveys, subsequent excavations, and scientific and technological research methods.
The conservation of cultural heritage is also part of the agreement. Another focus is the joint training of archaeologists and other specialists. Peru and China aim not only to conduct individual research projects but also to exchange knowledge, experience, and methods in the long term.
Initial Investigations in Two River Valleys
The first phase of the project has already been outlined in more detail. The joint team will initially conduct investigations in the valleys of the Chancay-Huaral and Supe rivers. Archaeological sites will be examined and documented on-site. The results will then help to plan subsequent excavations more precisely.
The Supe Valley, in particular, holds exceptional significance for the study of early American history. Here, around 5,000 years ago, a society developed that is now considered one of the oldest known complex civilizations on the American continent.
Caral is Approximately 5,000 Years Old
The Caral civilization developed approximately between 3000 and 1800 BC. Thus, a highly developed society already existed in present-day Peru when many other well-known cultures of the Americas had not yet emerged.
The Sacred City of Caral-Supe is located in the Barranca province north of Lima and has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2009. Monumental architecture, ceremonial complexes, and large public buildings demonstrate the complexity of society at that time.
In recent years, excavations have consistently provided new insights. In early 2025, for example, Peruvian researchers reported a previously unknown pyramid-shaped structure in the nearby archaeological settlement of Chupacigarro.
Research to Be Extended to the Incas Later
Of particular interest is that the new collaboration is not intended to be limited to Caral. According to the Chinese side, the cooperation is planned to be extended later to the archaeological remains of the Incas in the Andean highlands.
Comparative studies between early Chinese and South American civilizations are also intended to play a role. Thus, the project, initially focused on Caral, could develop into a long-term archaeological collaboration between Peru and China.
Why the Collaboration is Important for Peru
For Peruvian archaeology, the project opens up additional opportunities. Modern investigation methods can help to analyze structures, materials, and artifacts more precisely while protecting sensitive archaeological areas.
Caral remains one of the most important research areas for the question of how complex societies developed in the Americas. The new cooperation brings together scientists from two countries, both of which possess some of the oldest and most extensive archaeological cultural landscapes in the world.
For Peru, therefore, the project means more than just another excavation campaign. Caral is once again becoming the starting point for international research into the early civilizations of humankind.