Pre-Columbian Americas

First civilizations in Americas

PiramidesdeCaral
the oldest city in the Americas is "Caral-Supe" in Peru
pre-Incan, approx 3,000 BC
- contemporaneous (same time) with Ancient Egypt
population was approx, 3,000
- other similar sites suggest overall regional population of up to 20,000
consists of ceremonial, monumental and administrative buildings/ structures
city layout shows signs of social classes
- large residential complexes near to ceremonial structures
- small rooms in other areas
built pyramids
created the pattern of urban design in the Andes through to the Inca
shows no signs of warfare of defensive structures

Metallurgy in pre-Columbian Americas per region:
- North America: no smelting
  - copper readily available, malleable by hammering
- South America developed smelting
- Mesoamerica metallurgy via South American diffusion
see: Metallurgy in pre-Columbian America - Wikipedia
- iron readily available
- gold / silver / copper
  - gold hammered
  - tumbaga: copper-gold alloy
    - used for casting
- gems used extensively / jade
- obsidian used for edges/ knives/ cutting
  - ability to cut stone
  - but not wood
- - source: The Minerals of Pre-Columbian America | Rock & Gem Magazine (rockngem.com)
- - Andes region alloy use
    - tin used for specific but not general purposes >> "wirework bells"
      - tin deposits avail, not exploited
  - copper smelting in drafted furnaces
  - mercury
  - platinum developed in Andes region
    - copper, gold, silver alloys
    - technology adopted by Spanish
  - sinnabar
- wood less useful
  - charcoal not developed
  - planks not exploited for buildings / ships