On the northern coast of the region, the first known civilization in the Americas,
Caral, emerged around the 4th millennium BC, with some characteristics that were maintained by later cultures of
Pre-Columbian Peru: the use of the
quipu, regional trade, and monumental religious architecture. The
Aymara and
Quechua language families also originated in this region. The remains of early Andean inhabitants,
hunters and harpoon fishermen from more than 6500 years ago, are to be found in the department. Theey were found in
Chivateros, near the
Chillón River, and in various other places. These persons incorporated nets, hooks, farming, ceramics and weaving to their everyday objects. The inhabitants of the coast lived in the
lomas and the valleys, where they built temples and dwelling complexes, leading to huge ceremonial centres, such as the
Huacoy and
Ancón ((where lithic prehistoric projectile points of
Paijan were found) on the
Chillón River;
Garagay and
La Florida on the
Rímac River,
Manchay on the
Lurín River; and
Chancay,
Supe and many other valleys to the north and south. There are finely ornamented temples with figures modelled in clay. The 5,000-year-old ruins known as
El Paraíso are also located in this area. The
Lima culture (100 to 650 AD) arose in this area, specially in the central valleys from
Chancay to
Lurín. It was distinguished by painted adobe buildings. During this time, the
Huari conquest took place, thus giving rise to Huari-style ceramics, together with a local style known as Nievería. As the population grew, their culture changed. With the decline of the Huari, whose most important center was
Cajamarquilla, new local cultures arose. The
Chancay are the most well-known. They developed large urban centers and a considerable textile production, as well as mass-produced ceramics. At this stage in the mid-
15th century, the
Incas arrived from their base in the Andes. They conquered and absorbed the regional cultures and occupied important sites such as
Pachacamac, turning it into an administrative centre.
Spanish period The Spanish
conquered and occupied the area in the 16th century. From 1784 to 1821, the area (today part of Lima—except
Cajatambo and
Oyón—and
Ica, as well of the coast of
Ancash) was administered as the
Intendancy of Lima (the
Cercado de la Capital), subdivided into
partidos. During the
Peruvian War of Independence, the town of
Huaura served as the location for the first proclamation of the independence of Peru.
José de San Martín made the announcement from
a balcony on November 27, 1820. The
Department of the Coast () was established on February 12, 1821, through an
official document issued by San Martín that also created the departments of
Huaylas,
Tarma and
Trujillo, each headed by a president. Their jurisdiction extended to the territory occupied by the
Liberating Expedition of Peru. Its capital was Huaura, the seat of its president, whose lone officeholder was . It was subdivided into three provinces:
Santa, , and
Canta. It was represented at the first
Congress of Peru in 1822 by the following: San Martín's forces did not reach
Lima—located south of the department—for five more months, where he again proclaimed the independence of Peru on July 28, 1821. This time, the announcement took place in four of the city's urban squares:
La Merced,
Plaza Mayor,
Santa Ana and
Inquisición. The announcement in the main square was made from the
Casa del Oidor Republican period The
Department of the Capital () was created through the a Provisional Statute of August 4, 1821, In 1835, Santa was transferred to Huaylas. On August 11, 1836, the
Republic of North Peru was created following a
civil war. Nine days later,
Callao was granted autonomy by Protector
Andrés de Santa Cruz. On October 28, North Peru, to which the
department of Lima belonged, joined the
Peru–Bolivian Confederation. The
War of the Confederation threatened the country's stability, with a
seccessionist government headed by
Luis José de Orbegoso taking control of North Peru. Orbegoso's forces were defeated in a
confrontation that took place north of Lima. The
Chilean–dissident Peruvian alliance eventually defeated the Confederate forces, and the state dissolved in 1839. In 1855, the
province of Ica was separated from the department. It was elevated eleven years later by
Mariano Ignacio Prado. The
Villa de Huacho was elevated to city level through the law of November 10, 1874, which also made it the provincial capital. The law was passed by
Manuel Pardo. In 1879, a war between a Peruvian–Bolivian alliance against Chile began, known as the
War of the Pacific. The latter's military campaign was successful, and Lima was
occupied by the Chilean Army following a
brief land campaign that began in
Pisco. In 1916,
Cajatambo province, which also included what later became
Oyón province at the time, was transferred to Lima.
Contemporary period During the
Internal conflict in Peru, parts of the territory were occupied by the
Shining Path. In 1985, Oyón province was created. In 1988, Chancay province was dissolved. In 2006, a team of
archeological researchers led by Robert Benfer announced their findings from a four-year excavation at
Buena Vista in the
Chillón River valley a few kilometres north of present-day Lima. They had discovered a 4200-year-old observatory constructed by an early Andean civilization, a three-dimensional sculpture, unique for the time period in this region, and sophisticated carvings. The observatory is on top of a 10-meter
pyramidal mound and has architectural features for sighting the astronomical
solstices. The discovery pushes back the time for the development of complex civilisation in the area and has altered scholars' understanding of
Preceramic period cultures in Peru. == Politics ==