Protecting Caral in Peru and the Government’s Role in Preserving Heritage Sites
The recent threats against archaeologist Ruth Shady and the Caral archaeological site in Peru highlight the urgent need for government intervention. Protecting these ancient treasures is a cultural duty and a responsibility to safeguard humanity’s shared history.
Amid rapid development, global conflict, and environmental degradation, protecting cultural heritage sites has never been more urgent. One of the most recent and distressing examples comes from Peru, where Ruth Shady, the director of the 5,000-year-old Caral archaeological site, has been receiving death threats from land traffickers determined to seize the land surrounding this ancient treasure. The threats have led to resignations among her archaeologists, some of whom have decided it is no longer safe to continue their work.
As Caral—the oldest known city in the Americas—faces threats from both criminal organizations and insufficient government support, it’s become increasingly clear that safeguarding such heritage sites requires more than just academic oversight. It necessitates robust government action and international cooperation. Cultural heritage and all humanity belong to the countries where these sites are located. Failure to protect Caral and similar sites would be a national loss for Peru and a global tragedy.
A Global Heritage Under Threat
Caral, located in the coastal province of Barranca, north of Lima, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a symbol of early civilization in the Americas. It represents a significant milestone in human history, showing the development of organized society, agriculture, and cooperative economic models. Despite its importance, this ancient site has become vulnerable to land traffickers who are determined to seize and exploit the area for profit illegally.
Ruth Shady has dedicated over 30 years to researching and preserving Caral and has been a vocal advocate for its protection. Recently, she revealed that she and her team had been targeted with death threats from these traffickers, who have even hired hitmen to ensure their plans to invade the land succeed. These threats extend not just to Shady herself but also to her lawyer and many of her colleagues. The situation has become so dire that several archaeologists working with Shady have resigned, citing safety concerns.
The lack of adequate police protection has compounded the crisis. According to Shady, the police presence that once safeguarded Caral has been steadily reduced in recent weeks. The site is exposed to further invasions without the necessary resources to pay for private security. Despite repeated warnings to local and national authorities, Shady says her pleas for help have gone mainly unanswered.
This situation is far from unique. Cultural heritage sites worldwide face similar threats, often from criminal organizations seeking to exploit these areas for financial gain. Caral’s vulnerability is a stark reminder that no heritage site is immune from modern-day threats, and government inaction only increases the risk of irreparable damage.
Why Protection is Paramount
Governments have a critical role in preserving national and global cultural heritage. Their responsibilities go beyond simple oversight; they must ensure these sites are protected from external threats, receive adequate funding, and remain accessible to future generations. In the case of Caral, the Peruvian government’s failure to provide sufficient security or resources speaks to a broader problem of prioritization.
The current minister of culture, Fabricio Valencia, recently acknowledged the importance of protecting Caral, calling Shady “an example of how an archaeological site should be protected.” However, these words must be followed by concrete action. While Valencia has promised immediate intervention, the situation at Caral demonstrates the need for more sustained efforts. Governments cannot wait for crises to escalate before stepping in. Proactive measures must be taken to ensure that threats like land trafficking are addressed before they reach the point of death threats and widespread fear.
Peru has a dual responsibility like many other nations with rich archaeological histories. It must protect these sites for the sake of its own citizens and cultural identity and safeguard them on behalf of the world. Caral is part of humanity’s collective heritage with its ancient history and profound archaeological significance. To fail to protect it would be to forget not just the people of Peru but future generations around the globe.
This is where governmental responsibility comes into play. International bodies like UNESCO can raise awareness and help provide guidelines for preservation. Still, local governments must take the lead in ensuring these heritage sites are physically protected and financially supported. In Caral’s case, this means ramping up security measures and allocating the necessary funding to maintain and protect the site from further encroachment.
The Consequences of Inaction
The threats facing Caral are not merely theoretical. Across the globe, numerous cultural heritage sites have been lost or severely damaged due to government inaction, criminal activity, or natural disasters. The consequences of such losses are profound. When a heritage site is destroyed or compromised, it erases a part of human history that can never be fully recovered.
Consider the destruction of the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria by ISIS militants or the Taliban’s demolition of the Bamiyan Buddhas in Afghanistan. These events didn’t just damage buildings or artifacts; they represented the obliteration of irreplaceable links to the past. The loss is deeply personal for local populations, as these sites often carry cultural and spiritual significance. For the world, such losses signify the disappearance of vital historical knowledge and artistic achievement.
In the case of Caral, allowing land traffickers to seize control of the area would not only endanger ongoing archaeological work but also open the door to the irreversible destruction of the site. Encroachment could lead to unauthorized excavations, vandalism, and the commercialization of sacred land. Once lost, the knowledge embedded in Caral’s ancient structures and artifacts can never be fully restored.
Cultural sites like Caral offer us windows into our collective past. They show how ancient civilizations organized their societies, developed technologies, and interacted with their environments. The insights we gain from studying these sites help us understand who we are as a species. Losing Caral to criminal exploitation would be more than just a blow to archaeology—it would be a loss to humanity’s shared heritage.
Investing in Preservation for Future Generations
Caral’s situation represents a broader call to action for governments worldwide. Protecting cultural heritage sites should not be seen as a luxury or an afterthought; it is an essential duty. These sites provide not only historical insight but also economic and educational value. Archaeological tourism, for example, can be a significant source of income for countries like Peru. Visitors travel from across the globe to experience the ancient wonders of sites like Machu Picchu and Caral. Protecting these sites ensures they remain viable attractions for future generations, helping sustain local economies while promoting cultural exchange.
Governments must invest in short-term security measures and long-term preservation strategies to safeguard Caral and similar sites. In the short term, this means providing adequate police or military protection to prevent invasions and ensuring that archaeologists like Ruth Shady can continue their work without fear for their lives. It also means cracking down on land traffickers and criminal organizations that threaten cultural heritage.
Governments must allocate sufficient budgets for maintaining, preserving, and restoring heritage sites in the long term. This includes funding for archaeological research, conservation projects, and community education initiatives that foster local pride in cultural heritage. In many cases, partnerships with international organizations like UNESCO or private foundations can help provide additional resources for these efforts.
Finally, there must be a collective understanding that protecting heritage sites is a global responsibility. Countries that house these treasures must not shoulder the burden alone. International cooperation, funding, and expertise should be leveraged to ensure that sites like Caral are protected, studied, celebrated, and preserved for future generations.
Also read: Peru’s New Law Undermines Justice for Atrocity Victims
The threats facing Caral and its lead archaeologist, Ruth Shady, are a wake-up call for governments worldwide. Protecting cultural heritage sites is a matter of national pride and a global obligation. The time for action is now before it is too late. As the oldest known city in the Americas, Caral is an invaluable link to our shared human past, and its preservation is essential. Governments must step up, prioritize the protection of these sites, and ensure that future generations inherit a world rich in history and culture, not one where ancient treasures are lost to greed and violence.
