Archeologists unearth 4,000-year-old temple in Peru

Archeologists in Peru have unearthed a 4,000-year-old temple on the country's northern coast, making it one of the oldest discoveries of its kind in the Americas.

Archeologist Walter Alva said the temple is located inside a larger complex in the Lambayeque Valley, 760 kilometres north of Lima, and located near another site that he had unearthed in the 1980s.

The temple, named Ventarron by the team of scientists that uncovered it, includes murals and a staircase that leads up to an altar, likely used for fire worship.

Alva said Ventarron is unique because of its plethora of murals as well as its construction methods and design.

It sits right next to the Sipan site, the religious centre of the Moche culture, which flourished in the northern coast of Peru between 200 BC and 700 AD. The Moche were adept at irrigation, turning their desert lands into fertile farmlands.

One of the greatest finds at Sipan included a gold-filled tomb built for a king about 1,700 years ago.

Moche society was made up of priest rulers, potters, artisans, farmers, fishermen and weavers.A sophisticated culture, their pottery and jewelry are noted for their fine workmanship.

Alva said the discovery of the new site has provided evidence the Moche engaged in cultural exchanges with the rest of Peru.

These sites date to pre-Incan times.One of Peru's best-known sites includes the Inca locale of Machu Picchu in the Andes.The Incas ruled for several centuries until the arrival of the Spanish during the 1500s.