China, Peru Sign Historic Joint Archaeology Agreement
Chinese archaeological institutions have signed their first-ever joint archaeological cooperation agreement in South America, marking a historic milestone in international cultural exchange. On August 21, the Institute of Archaeology of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) formally signed agreements in Peru with the country’s Ministry of Culture Caral Archaeological Zone and the National University of San Marcos School of Archaeology, according to Xinhua News.
The signing ceremony took place at the Caral Archaeological Workstation in Supe City, Peru, and paves the way for comprehensive joint research on the Caral civilization — the earliest civilization ever discovered in the Americas.
A Landmark in International Archaeology
The cooperation agreement covers field surveys and excavations, scientific and technological archaeological research, cultural heritage protection, and joint talent cultivation. The collaboration will later extend to Andean Inca civilization remains, enabling comparative studies of ancient Chinese and South American civilizations, as reported by China News Service.
Following the signing, the China-Peru joint archaeological team will launch its first phase of field surveys, exploring the Chancay-Huaral and Supe River basins and conducting on-site surveys of key archaeological sites including the Sacred City of Caral and Aspero.
Understanding the Caral Civilization
The Caral civilization arose on Peru’s northern coast and dates from approximately 3000 BC to 1800 BC, making it the earliest cultural peak of the pre-ceramic Neolithic period in the Andes region. It is recognized as one of the six sites where civilization independently originated in the ancient world, developing contemporaneously with great cultures in Mesopotamia, Egypt, and China.
The Caral-Supe Sacred City, covering 626 hectares and located about 20 kilometers from the Pacific coast, was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2009. Notably, archaeologists have found no defensive fortifications or traces of warfare at Caral, suggesting it may have been a peaceful trading center.
Filling a Critical Gap
This cooperation fills a long-standing gap in Chinese archaeological institutions’ field archaeology work in South America. China will obtain first-hand archaeological data on early American civilization, contributing to comparative research on Pacific Rim ancient civilizations and providing a Chinese academic perspective on the origins of early complex societies globally, according to China Daily.
Peru, in turn, will benefit from China’s accumulated practical experience in scientific archaeology and cultural heritage protection, achieving two-way academic gains.
Jia Xiaobing, director of the World Archaeology Research Office at the CASS Institute of Archaeology, who led the delegation to Peru, emphasized the significance of the collaboration: “The two ancient civilizations of China and Peru share similarities in many aspects such as astronomical observation and spiritual beliefs. This joint archaeological project will use excavated physical evidence to demonstrate the pluralistic coexistence of world civilizations.”
Five Decades of Academic Exchange
The agreement builds on more than 50 years of China-Peru archaeological academic exchange. In 1973, Xia Nai, then director of the Institute of Archaeology, led a Chinese archaeological delegation to Peru, visiting important sites including Machu Picchu. The following year, a Peruvian archaeological delegation visited China in return, establishing two-way academic exchange between the two countries, as People’s Daily reported.
In recent years, China-Peru cultural and museum exchanges have continued to deepen, with the two civilizations’ historical connections laying a solid foundation for this joint archaeological initiative.
A Model for Global South Cooperation
Jia Xiaobing noted that both sides will adhere to equal cooperation and fully respect cultural sovereignty throughout the process, creating a reference model for cooperation in the field of civilization among Global South countries. He added that both sides will steadily advance field excavations, scientific research, and talent team building, producing high-quality academic results and public cultural products.
“Using archaeology as a bond, we will promote China-Peru friendship and facilitate mutual learning among human civilizations,” he said.
What to Watch For
As the China-Peru joint archaeological team prepares to launch its first field surveys in the coming months, observers will be watching for initial findings from the Caral sites and how this cooperation evolves into broader comparative research between ancient Chinese and South American civilizations. The initiative represents not only a significant step for Chinese archaeology’s global expansion but also a meaningful contribution to understanding humanity’s shared cultural heritage.