Archaeologists discovered a building from around 2,200 BCE in an archaeological and ecological park in Quito (Ecuador) at the foot of Pichincha Volcano.
     "It is the most ancient archaeological find in Rumbipapa Park and in the city of Quito," park supervisor Bernarda Icaza said, adding that no identification or description has been made of the culture that lived in the area during the Formative Period when the building was constructed. Icaza noted that the find has 'enormous' historical importance, because "it opens doors to further archaeological, historical and heritage research."
     The excavation was started two years ago by archaeologist Angelo Constantine. After digging down three meters, the flooring of a small dwelling was found. Park guide Danny Villacis, who worked on the dig, said that carbon dating was used to determine the age of the site, where human traces were found. Also found were scraps of human and animal bones from another period, presumably from a time after Pichincha Volcano erupted.
     Villacis said the discovery is singularly important because it shows "We are practically in our infancy when it comes to studying historical subjects, and there is still a lot of research to be done, since many people refer to the Incas as their ancestors despite the fact that thousands of years ago there were already other people living here."

Edite from Global Post (8 February 2014)