essay

Theocracy vs. militarism: the significance of the Casma Valley in understanding early state formation

origins and development of the andean stateCambridge [Cambridgeshire]Published In 1987 • Pages: 15-30

By: Pozorski, Shelia Griffis.

AbstractBrief abstract written by HRAF anthropologists who have done the subject indexing for the document
This document is a review of some of the changes that occurred to the polities in the Casma Valley from the Late Preceramic into the Early Intermediate Period; only data pertaining to the Late Formative, or Early Horizon/Early Period, are relevant to this collection. During the late Initial Period, Sechín Alto dominated, and shortly before the start of the Early Horizon it is proposed that the valley was invaded by a militaristic state society from the highlands. Monument construction at Las Haldas, Taukachi-Konkan, and Sechín Bajo halted, and the sites do not have noticeable midden accumulation from this period. Several sites were re-occupied and, as if in desecration, domestic structures erected atop temples. Stone was taken from existing structures to build new shelters. There were changes in artifact assemblages and subsistence patterns, and new settlements arose with distinctive architecture and site layout (e.g. Pampa Rosario and San Diego). The invasion theory is bolstered by the style and themes of the friezes of Cerro Sechín. Comparative information is supplied for other north coast valleys.
SubjectsDocument-level OCM identifiers given by the anthropology subject indexers at HRAF
Sociocultural trends
Acculturation and culture contact
Settlement patterns
Miscellaneous facilities
Warfare
Visual arts
Territorial hierarchy
Religious and educational structures
Sacred objects and places
traditionCulture name from the Outline of World Cultures (OWC)
Coastal Andean Late Formative
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
5: Excellent Primary Data
AnalystThe HRAF anthropologist who subject indexed the document and prepared other materials for the eHRAF culture/tradition collection
Sarah Berry; 2012
Field DateThe date the researcher conducted the fieldwork or archival research that produced the document
no date
Coverage DateThe date or dates that the information in the document pertains to
4500-2120 BP (2500-120 BC)
Coverage PlaceLocation of the research culture or tradition (often a smaller unit such as a band, community, or archaeological site)
Casma province (lower Casma Valley), Ancash, Peru
NotesAdditional notes
Shelia Pozorski
For bibliographical references see document 8: Haas (1987, References cited)
LCCNLibrary of Congress Control Number
86019332
LCSHLibrary of Congress Subject Headings
Andes Region--Antiquities