Coastal Andean Late Formative

expand_more Description

The Coastal Andean Late Formative tradition occurred from 3000 BP–2200 BP and was located along the Pacific coast of Peru from the La Leche Valley in the north to the Nazca Valley in the south. The people were sedentary agriculturalists, with maize added during this period, and they supplemented their diet with fish, shellfish gathering, and domesticated animals such as llamas and guinea pigs. Settlements range from urban to small village sites and also include fortified hilltop sites and specialized elite cemeteries. The settlement hierarchy suggests a chiefdom level of organization. The fortified sites along the north coast suggest endemic conflict. Copper and gold artifacts appear for the first time and the high quality of these, the textiles, and ceramics hint at the existence of part-time specialists.

Identifier

Region

• South America

Subregion

• Central Andes

Subsistence Type

• intensive agriculturalists

Countries

• Peru