essay
Architecture of the Chimu: memory, function, and image
northern dynasties : kingship and statecraft in chimor: a symposium at dumbarton oaks, 12th and 13th october 1985 • Washington, D.C. • Published In 1990 • Pages: 43-74
By: Conklin, William J..
AbstractBrief abstract written by HRAF anthropologists who have done the subject indexing for the document
The author examines Chimu architecture through images found in ceramics and textiles and by examining architectural remains, tracing changes from the early [i]huacas[/i] from the Initial Period in the Moche Valley through the urban layouts of Chimu. Iconography contains no examples of specific monuments, only generalized [i]huacas[/i], but there are models of domestic structures and scenes of some of the activities that occurred within them. What the Chimu portrayed through iconography and what was not shown are considered clues as to the meanings associated with different types of architecture. Galindo, Pampa Grande, Chan Chan, and Pacatnamu receive particular attention. Galindo is especially important as it was no longer a city dominated by [i]huacas[/i] , probably indicting the advent of secularization. The iconography suggests such mounds contained the power of a deity while the chroniclers’ descriptions imply the mountains were the primary source of sacred power. The plan of Chan Chan hints that the Chimu government may not have been a unified state, because there are no common plazas, water supply, or monuments. Instead, the [i]ciudadelas[/i] seem to have been created as mausoleums to showcase the personal art collection of the person buried there. In contrast, Huaca 1 at Pacatnamu is associated with a Chan Chan-like compound, but there is a unified access system. Although many portable Chimu artifacts were similar in throughout its territory, architecture in the Moche Valley differed from architecture elsewhere.
- SubjectsDocument-level OCM identifiers given by the anthropology subject indexers at HRAF
- Religious and educational structures
- Settlement patterns
- Visual arts
- Sociocultural trends
- Cultural participation
- General character of religion
- Sacred objects and places
- Public structures
- Miscellaneous facilities
- traditionCulture name from the Outline of World Cultures (OWC)
- Chimu
- HRAF PubDateThe date HRAF published the document
- 2015
- RegionThe area the document pertains to
- South America
- Sub RegionThe more specific area the document pertains to, which is located within the Region
- Central Andes
- Document TypeMay include journal articles, essays, collections of essays, monographs, or chapters/parts of monographs
- essay
- Evaluation
- Creator TypeThe type of person writing the document, e.g. Ethnographer, Missionary, Archaeologist, Folklorist, Linguist, Indigenous Person, and so on.
- Archaeologist
- Document Rating A ranking done by HRAF anthropologists based on the strength of the source material on a scale of 1 to 5, as follows: 1 - poor; 2 - fair; 3 - good, useful data, but not uniformly excellent; 4 - excellent secondary data; 5 - excellent primary data.
- 4: Excellent Secondary Data
- AnalystThe HRAF anthropologist who subject indexed the document and prepared other materials for the eHRAF culture/tradition collection
- Sarah Berry; 2014
- Field DateThe date the researcher conducted the fieldwork or archival research that produced the document
- not specified
- Coverage DateThe date or dates that the information in the document pertains to
- 4000-524 BP (2000 BC-AD 1476)
- Coverage PlaceLocation of the research culture or tradition (often a smaller unit such as a band, community, or archaeological site)
- coastal La Libertad region (north coast) Peru
- NotesAdditional notes
- William J. Conklin
- Includes bibliographical references (p. 72-74 )
- LCCNLibrary of Congress Control Number
- 89023336
- LCSHLibrary of Congress Subject Headings
- Chimu Indians--Politics and government--Congresses
- Chimu Indians--Antiquities--Congresses
- Chan Chan Site (Peru)--Congresses
- Peru--Antiquities--Congresses