Early Peru

| World of Opposites | Universe of two halves | Capital of first andean Empire | Voice of God |

Pre-Inca Cultures Introduction When historians study ancient and medieval Europe, they can make use of a wide variety of written sources. Unfortunately, when we turn to the early peoples of Peru we cannot use the written sources - there are none. Almost everything we know about the pre-Columbian civilizations of Peru comes from careful study of the non-written sources that are available to us: temples, tombs, textiles, pottery and other artefacts. In some respects then our knowledge of these early cultures is limited, but by careful analysis and some creative thinking we are able to build up a fair understanding of some parts of their lives, especially their religions and burial habits. This bimester we will concentrate on three early Peruvian cultures, Chavin, Moche and Nazca. There are others, but it is hoped by drawing your attention to these particularly important and interesting ones, you will feel that you want to find out more for yourself about some of the others.

Chavin de Huantar - A world of opposites

The small settlement of Chavin de Huantar is located in the department of Ancash. Evidence shows that people have lived there for about 3000 years. There are extensive ruins to be seen today, even though much has been destroyed by earthquakes, landslides and more modern human settlements. Chavin is located at the confluence of two rivers, the River Mosna and the Huachecsa, several thousand metres up the Andes on the eastward facing slopes. The site is halfway between the very different worlds of the coast and the jungle. The ruins are dominated by two ceremonial centres, the Old Temple and the New Temple. Entry to the New Temple is by way of black and white stairs, passed black and white stone portals (gate stones). Amongst the most important finds in the temples are three obelisks (tall stones). Although it is hard to prove the significance of these carved stones, there is general agreement among archaeologists that these were the principal gods of Chavin. The Obelisks 1. "The Tello Obelisk" This obelisk is 2.5 metres high and four-sided. On it are carved two animals, almost certainly caymen, of different sexes. The carving derives its nickname from this - "The Black Cayman". The caymen have the tail of a bird and the female cayman has an eagle by its mouth. Could this refer to the god's ability to fly? Cayman A has a spondylus shell in front of its mouth. This is the shell of a tiny oyster which is gathered at the bottom of the deep waters of the Ecuadorian coast. Could this mean that the god was associated with the sea? In ancient rituals this shell often associated with female forces. Notice that between the two caymen is a spiral shell known as a strombus. In ancient rituals this shell is associated with male forces. The reptiles carry a number of plants:

Cayman A achira is coming out of an isolated head within the reptile peanuts drop from the rear claws yucca grows one third up the cayman

Cayman B chili peppers are clasped in the rear claws the flowers and fruit of a bottled gourd appear from a fanged face on its back.

Archaeologists have concluded from this evidence that Cayman A has root crops associated with it, while Cayman B has fruits which grow above the ground. Could Cayman A then be the god of the underworld and Cayman B the god of the sky? Many archaeologists prefer the theory that the caymen represent the gods who gave food, especially domesticated plants to man. 1. Why do some archaeologists think that the Tello Obelisk shows a god of the skies and of the underworld? Why do some archaeologists think it is a fertility god? i. Shade your own copy of the Tello Obelisk as creatively as you can. Be sure to make the caymen as clear as possible. ii.Now carefully cut out all the blank paper around the obelisk and fold it as

2. 3.

indicated to create your own model of the Tello Obelisk. Note that area 1 and area 5 are the same part of the obelisk.Use tape or glue to hold the folds together. 2. El Lanzon

This stone is 4 metres high and was found at the heart of the Old Temple, at the crossing of two underground passageways. It has a feline face and claws. Yet the figure is also part human. 1. Describe the human features of "El Lanzon".

The god wears ear-pendants, bracelets, anklets, a short skirt with tabs sewn along the boot edge, and an ornamental collar. The figure seems to be male. 2. Describe the eyebrows and hair of "El Lanzon".

The headdress, which occupies a large part of the stone, consists of a column of fanged feline heads. 3. What do you think the small animal directly above the nose of the god is?

In its hands the god holds a four-twined rope. "El Lanzon" has a grinning mouth (hence its nickname of "The Smiling God"), but in other respects it appears to be a fierce god.

4.

Describe the fierce features of the god.

3. The Estela Raimondi This granite slab is 1.8 metres high and was found in the New Temple. It was discovered by a local farmer in 1840, who took it home and used it as a table, until it was rescued by the archaeologist Raimondi. The obelisk shows a monstrous figure, part feline, part human, yet with bird-like claws. 1. What features does this god share with "El Lanzon"? The arms of the god are wide open and it holds a large staff (hence it is sometimes referred to as the "Staff God"). The elaborate staff gives the god authority. 4. Turn the god upside-down. What do you notice?

The Tenon Heads At Chavin archaeologists also found a number of large heads which had at one time been attached to the walls of the temple. These tenon heads or gargoyles show the transformation of the human head into that of a feline, probably a jaguar. The transformation is accompanied by a flow of fluids from the nose. Archaeologists think that this indicates that the transformation took place under the influence of hallucinogens (drugs). Many early Peruvian cultures used the San Pedro cactus in religious rituals. When taken in liquid form the cactus has hallucinogenic properties which would enable a priest to see things which others could not. It is also known to irritate the mucus nasal membranes. 1. Explain why you think the source opposite is shown as feline and with a flow of nasal fluid.

Chavin - a universe of two halves

Some archaeologists think that the temple at Chavin shows the dual nature of the universe. 1. Look back over all the sheets and list the pairs of opposites associated with Chavin.

In another way, the temples at Chavin are connected with the idea of opposites. The designs of the two temples are very different. In the Old Temple the priests would have had to descend to the depths of the deepest tunnel to worship "El Lanzon". In the New Temple the priest would have climbed the stairs through the black and white portals to worship the gods. On the portals are birds of prey, one male, the other female. What conclusion might you draw from the evidence on the portals and the pyramidal shape of the New Temple

Who were the people of Chavin? Today it is widely thought that the original people of Chavin came from the jungle rather than the coast. Look back at all the evidence from the obelisks and tenon heads and explain why archaeologists think this.

Chavin - capital of the first Andean Empire

Over the years, Chavin has been studied and excavated by a series of archaeologists. These include Ernst Middendorf, a German who lived in Peru for 23 years towards the end of the nineteenth century; Julio C. Tello, the Peruvian archaeologist; and Carrion Cachot in the 1940s. They all agreed that Chavin was not just a temple: it was the centre of an Andean Empire.

Chavin - The Voice Of God

In 1616 the ruins of Chavin were visited by Antonio Vasquez de Espinoza, a priest. He wrote that: "Beside this town of Chavin there is a great building of very great stones. It was a huaca, a very famous temple for the pagans, like Rome or Jerusalem are for us. Here the Indians come to make their sacrifices because in this place the devil gave many oracles, and so they came from all over the kingdom." Chavin had not been forgotten. The temples were abandoned around 200 BC, but even the Incas made sacrifices there. Vasquez de Espinoza was probably correct. Chavin may well have been an oracle, that is a temple where people went to ask the gods a question. This is thought to be why the drainage systems of the temple can make a sound like the roar of a huge animal. Pilgrims from all over the Andes came looking for an answer to their problems. Once the question had been asked, the priest let the waters go through the drains. The god roared its answer, and the priests told the pilgrims what it meant. 1. 2. What is an oracle? What questions can you imagine pilgrims wanting to ask the oracle of Chavin?