PERUVIAN CULTURES

Mochica (Moche) (back | top)

Mochica is the best known and most admired culture of ancient Peru. The culture appeared between 0 and 600 A.D., the “early intermediate” era. In the year 200 A.D., in the northern coastal region of the country, the Moche reached their climax as a culture. Its domain was centered between the Moche and Chicama valleys, where important ceremonial building ruins are found, as well as numerous works of irrigation routes.

Between 400 and 500 A.D., the Moche expanded their territory from Piura in the north down to Huarmey in the south. It is believed that the Moche Valley was the center of this culture, especially the "Huaca del Sol" and "Huaca de la Luna" (archeological sites of the Sun and the Moon).

The great variety of archeological findings allows us to admire the grandeur of their art, and gain a close understanding of their social structure. The origin of the raw materials used by the Moche is unknown. However, it is believed that the gold and silver used was extracted from alluvial deposits and mineralized objects of the region. The inhabitants of the coast were expert metallurgists, having developed techniques like beating, hammering and welding. They also mastered the techniques of laminating and filling the metal.

The jewelers used gold as the base to mount seashell ornaments. They developed a process by which oxidized metals would shine with a golden color. The processes of smelting or fusion were similar to those used in the XVI century, when they used ovens, blowlamps and molds. A large quantity of funeral ornaments, such as masks, earrings and ceremonial instruments were produced.

Sican (Lambayeque) (back | top)

Sican, also known as Lambayeque, developed between the years 800 A.D. and 1100 A.D. This culture originated from the split of the Moches, due to their reoccurring social and political difficulties. They had an important metallurgical development, constructing great pyramids with stepped platforms and a network of inter-valley channels.

As the story goes, “Naylamp” – the first governor of the Sican – emerged from the sea and founded the capital city. The Sican adored the God “Ay-apaec”, known world-wide as the image represented in the famous ceremonial knife of the Chimu culture, the “Tumi”. The Sican were eventually dominated and absorbed into the Chimu culture.

Chimu (back | top)

The Chimu culture developed between 900–1440 A.D (the Late Intermediate period) on the same land where the Moche culture had existed centuries before. The main Chimu city was Chanchán in the state of La Libertad in northern Peru. The territorial area of influence of the Chimu was vast, reaching the state of Tumbes in the north, and the valley of Huarmey in the south.

There were two key stages of political and social growth: the first was the creation of a small focused group in the valley of Moche and bordering areas. The second was the progression and consolidation into a vast kingdom. It is believed that the kingdom of Chimu had ten governors, but the names of only four of them are known: Tacainamo, Guacricur, Naucempinco and Minchancaman.

It is said that around 1470, the Incas, whose culture and influence had been increasing, defeated the Chimu culture. Besides transferring Minchancaman to Cusco, the Incas also took their gold and silver from Chimu to adorn the Temple of the Sun in the state of Cusco.

During their period of domination, the Chimu people mastered the art of metallurgy and also advanced in the creation of woven textiles. They also developed a remarkable system of roads and waterways. The Chanchán fortress is a reflection of Chimu expertise in urban planning.

Nazca (back | top)

The Nazca culture thrived from 0 to 600 A.D., at the close of the period known as the “Early Horizon”. While chronologically we can observe that Nazca culture was born during the “Early Horizon”, the actual advancement and development of the culture did not come about until the "Early Intermediate" period. The strongest cultural influence on Nazca people was from the Huari in Ayacucho.

It is believed that Nazca development was attained between 100 and 700 A.D., but the accuracy of these dates is not yet conclusive based on scientific evidence.

Early research based on Nazca pottery revealed a sequence of nine phases of development that was reflected in the changing crafting styles of the ceramics that came over time. Of these nine phases, the last two were not actually Nazca, but a derivative of that culture, which represents a break in the tradition. Nowadays, researchers simplify the process of Nazca cultural development by breaking it down into four primary stages, as follows:

Without a doubt, the Nazca Lines, known worldwide, are the most remarkable manifestation of Nazca culture. Currently thousands of tourists visit these Lines every year. They are located in Nazca, state of Ica, covering an area of over 350 square kilometers.

There are over 10,000 lines, which include gigantic anthropomorphic and geometric drawings. Among the largest drawings are the monkey and the hummingbird, each being over 90 meters long.

The Nazca Lines were discovered in 1927 by Toribio Mejía Xesspe. Later on they were thoroughly studied by several different archeologists including Paul Kosok, who in 1941 discovered the first astronomical implications of these lines. Among the many scientists, it is important to mention the german archeologist Maria Reiche, who spent over 40 years studying them, but above all, protecting them as it was her who convinced UNESCO to declare them patrimony of humanity.

The significance of the Lines is still unclear. However, the most accepted hypothesis is that the Lines make up a large astronomic calendar, linked primarily to agriculture. Many other hypotheses exist, including one that credits their creation to extraterrestrial beings.

When seen up close, the lines are roads or tracks of about 30 cm in depth, carved on top of the reddish colored earth that is typical around Nazca. Underneath the first layer of reddish earth lies a yellowish colored layer. The figures can only be appreciated from the sky where they become live figures of anthropomorphic animals showing off the mastery of their creators.