article

Early complex society and ceremonialism on the Peruvian north coast

Senri ethnological studies37 • Published In 1993 • Pages: 45-68

By: Pozorski, Thomas George, Pozorski, Shelia Griffis.

Abstract
The authors explore some of the different ways complex society and its accompanying ceremonialism can develop by examining early sites in the Moche and Casma Valleys on the north coast of Peru. They begin with the Cotton Preceramic site of Huaynuná where a melding of coastal and highland traits is seen in the architecture. There follows a comparison of the architecture, religious structures, evidence for site planning, iconography, and ceramics of the two valleys. There are shared traits indicating some kind of interaction, but at the same time there are enough differences to argue for regional insularity. It is asserted that new evolutionary models are needed to explain the unusual aspects of this pattern.
Subjects
Cultural participation
Religious and educational structures
Miscellaneous facilities
Settlement patterns
Visual arts
Theoretical orientation in research and its results
Communication
tradition
Coastal Andean Early Formative
HRAF PubDate
2014
Region
South America
Sub Region
Central Andes
Document Type
article
Evaluation
Creator Type
Archaeologist
Document Rating
4: Excellent Secondary Data
5: Excellent Primary Data
Analyst
Sarah Berry; 2012
Field Date
1979-1991
Coverage Date
3900-2900 BP (1900-900 BC)
Coverage Place
coastal southern Lambayeque, La Libertad and northern Ancash regions (north coast), Peru
Notes
Thomas Pozorski, Shelia Pozorski
Includes bibliographical references (p. 65-68)
LCCN
82641261
LCSH
Andes Region--Antiquities