Monumental ceremonial complex in the Sechín River valley of coastal Ancash, Peru, whose circular sunken plaza (radiocarbon-dated to c. 3500 BCE) and adjacent carved frieze (c. 3600 BCE) are the oldest confirmed monumental architecture yet found in the Americas, built even before the Norte Chico/Caral-Supe cities reached their peak.
Occupation and monumental building at the site continued through later phases of the Casma-Sechín cultural sequence, down to roughly 1300 BCE, after which the site was eclipsed by other centers in the Casma-Sechín orbit (e.g. Sechín Alto, Cerro Sechín).
Standard synthesis of Andean prehistory situating Sechín Bajo's early monumental architecture alongside the Norte Chico/Caral horizon.
Classic survey of Peruvian coastal prehistory covering the Casma/Sechín valley sequence in which Sechín Bajo sits.