Casma

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This article is about the city. For the province of the Ancash Region in Peru, see Casma Province. For other uses, see Casma (disambiguation)

Coordinates: 9°28′27″S 78°18′38″W / -9.47417, -78.31056
Casma
Casma Location of in Peru
Country	Peru
Region	Ancash Region
Province	Casma Province

Casma is a city in the Ancash Region, Peru. It is located in the Casma Valley. Its surface has 1 204,85 km².

Its people venerate saint Santa Maria Magdalena and its day is celebrated on July 22.

Some of the largest prehistoric monuments around the world are situated in the Casma Valley and in the Sechín Valley. The pyramid, main square, and circular sunken courtyard complexes extend over one kilometer in length. In February 2008 archaeologists uncovered a ceremonial plaza which has been dated to 5,500 years ago, making it one of the oldest structures ever found in the Americas. [1]

German and Peruvian archeologists work at the circular 5,500-year-old sunken ceremonial plaza, built of stones and adobe, part of the Sechin Bajo archaeological complex in Casma, Andes foothills, 330 kilometers (206 miles) northwest of Lima, Feb. 2008. The archeologists say the plaza is the oldest known monument in Peru.