Book

Cahuachi in the ancient Nasca world

University of Iowa PressIowa CityPublished In 1993 • Pages:

By: Silverman, Helaine.

AbstractBrief abstract written by HRAF anthropologists who have done the subject indexing for the document
The author describes the site of Cahuachi, previous excavations, and her own surface survey, excavations, most notably of the Room of the Posts. Detail is provided on the physical setting, looting, site layout, mound architecture, burials, trophy heads, ceramics (including evidence for use), textiles, botanical and shellfish remains, and additional classes of artifacts. It is demonstrated that Cahuachi was mainly a religious or pilgrimage center and not a habitation site, although some elites may have lived there. Among Cahuachi’s unique features are its multiple ceremonial mounds. The author compares the site to the modern Shrine of the Virgin of Yauca, abandoned for most of the year. Cahuachi’s apogee was during phases 3-4, particularly in the ceremonial area of Unit 19, which includes the Room of the Posts. The site’s place in the Nazca tradition is examined, with a general description of Nazca culture and society.
SubjectsDocument-level OCM identifiers given by the anthropology subject indexers at HRAF
Identification
Culture summary
Archaeological excavation methods
Miscellaneous facilities
Sacred objects and places
traditionCulture name from the Outline of World Cultures (OWC)
Nazca
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
Book
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; 2013
Field DateThe date the researcher conducted the fieldwork or archival research that produced the document
1984-1989
Coverage DateThe date or dates that the information in the document pertains to
2200-1150 BP (200 BC-AD 850)
Coverage PlaceLocation of the research culture or tradition (often a smaller unit such as a band, community, or archaeological site)
Cahuachi, Nasca basin, south coast Peru
NotesAdditional notes
Helaine Silverman
"Published with the assistance of the Getty Grant Program"--T.p. verso
Includes bibliographical references (p. 345-360) and index
LCCNLibrary of Congress Control Number
92042223
LCSHLibrary of Congress Subject Headings
Nazca culture
Cahuachi Site (Peru) Nazca (Peru)--Antiquities