essay
Craft production in the kingdom of Chimor
northern dynasties : kingship and statecraft in chimor: a symposium at dumbarton oaks, 12th and 13th october 1985 • Washington, D.C. • Published In 1990 • Pages: 145-176
By: Topic, John R..
Abstract
Craft production and craft specialists in the city of Chan Chan are discussed, and compared with archaeological evidence for craft production in the provincial centers. Parallels are found in ethnohistorical evidence, despite a four generations remove between Chimu and Inca, with only middle levels of the political hierarchy persisting. Craft production was the cornerstone of the city’s economy, with control over the manufacture of high value goods largely for their own consumption appearing to have been the basis of elite power, not control over agricultural production for all. Indeed, evidence for craft production is highly concentrated in the center as compared to the provinces, and the capacity of the storage areas within Chan Chan was inadequate for large surpluses of agricultural staples; storage capacity at other Chimu cities was much lower. Metallurgy, woven fabrics, and [i]chicha[/i] (maize beer) production are given particular attention, along with the expansion of craft production in Chan Chan after the Lambayeque conquest.
- HRAF PubDate
- 2015
- Region
- South America
- Sub Region
- Central Andes
- Document Type
- essay
- Evaluation
- Creator Type
- Archaeologist
- Document Rating
- 4: Excellent Secondary Data
- 5: Excellent Primary Data
- Analyst
- Sarah Berry; 2014
- Field Date
- 1969, 1972-1973
- Coverage Date
- 1150-400 BP (AD 850-1600)
- Coverage Place
- Chan Chan, Huanchaco, Trujillo province (Moche Valley), La Libertad, Peru
- Notes
- John R. Topic
- Includes bibliographical references (p. 172-176)
- LCCN
- 89023336
- LCSH
- Chimu Indians--Politics and government--Congresses
- Chimu Indians--Antiquities--Congresses
- Chan Chan Site (Peru)--Congresses
- Peru--Antiquities--Congresses