Huaricanga is the earliest city of the Norte Chico civilization. It existed around 3500 BCE and was the oldest city in the Americas and one of the earliest cities in the world." This Late Archaic site is located in the Fortaleza Valley on Peru’s north central coast. It is 14 miles inland from the Pacific Ocean. The site covers a total area of 100 hectares, and is the largest Late Archaic construction in the Norte Chico region. Currently, the Pativilca-Huaraz highway divides the site. The current site consists of two mounds, the larger of which measures roughly two football fields in length. Near this larger mound were two standing stones, known as huancas, which are believed to hold some sacred ceremonial purpose. Huaricanga also served as a religious center, and residents would persuade fishermen and inhabitants of the nearby highlands to participate in seasonal rituals.

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huaricanga