essay

Unity and heterogeneity within the Chavín Horizon

peruvian prehistory : an overview of pre-inca and inca society • New York • Published In 1988 • Pages: 99-144, 319-355

By: Burger, Richard L..

Abstract

Burger writes about the rise of Chavín as an expansive religious movement that didn't depend on proselytizing missionaries to spread. He points out that despite this apparent unity '…the societies which constituted Chavín civilization were still characterized by profound ideological, soci-political, and economic differences …' (page 99). He believes it would be best to study Chavín using Andean concepts of community, reciprocity, taxation, and kinship to explain its expansion. Burger compares Chavín to the spread of the historical Pachacamac cult in the 16th century and shows how it may have been a regional cult; in that regional cults are 'non-congruent with political and ethnic boundaries and their ideology and rituals foster universalism and openness….Frequently, local cults acknowledge the legitimacy of the regional cult, and even become formally affilliated with it, without necessarily modifying their own ideology or rituals.' (page 114). The findings from the Karwa tomb, in southern coastal Peru, shows many similarities with the art in Chavín de Huántar. But the artifacts also show distinctive regional organization such as textiles picturing a female 'Staff God'. Burger discusses some the the ceramic traits that diffused throughout the Chavín area. He ends the article by proposing some hypotheses as to why Chavín appeared when it did.

HRAF PubDate

2004

Region

South America

Sub Region

Central Andes

Document Type

essay

Evaluation

Creator Type

Archaeologist

Document Rating

4: Excellent Secondary Data

5: Excellent Primary Data

Analyst

Sarah Berry ; 2003

Field Date

no date given

Coverage Date

late Initial Period through Early Horizon

Coverage Place

western Peru

Notes

Richard L. Burger

Includes bibliographical references (p. 319-355)

LCCN

85029059

LCSH

Chavín culture