Moche: Archaeology, Ethnicity, Identity

The two different modes of investigation in Art History and Anthropological Archaeology are discussed. This is followed by a consideration of these issues in relation to the Mochica archaeological culture. The “Mochica” have come to be considered a political or ethnic group and, in particular, considered as a prehistoric state. This essay questions these ideas and suggests that Moche is best considered as primarily a religious system. The ceremonial centers were likely places of pilgrimage with more complicated roles in politics than previous models have considered although changing roles through time must be considered.En este artículo se discuten dos métodos diferentes de investigación relativos a las disciplinas de la Historia del Arte y la Arqueología. Resulta una reflexión sobre estas aproximaciones metodologícas en cuanto a la cultura arqueológica Mochica. Gracias a los numerosos trabajos realizados sobre esta cultura, los «Mochica» son, hoy día, reconocidos como un grupo político o étnico, y aun más, se consideran como un estado prehistórico. Este ensayo cuestiona estos postulados, sugiriendo que la cultura Mochica hubiera sido más bien un sistema principalmente religioso. Así que los centros ceremoniales han sido probablemente lugares de peregrinación importantes con funciones políticas más complejas que lo sugerido por los modelos anteriormente propuestos. De igual manera debemos considerar la variación de sus funciones en el tiempo.Dans cet article deux méthodes différentes de recherche propres à l’Histoire de l’art et àl’Archéologie sont remises en cause. Il s’en suit une analyse de ces approches méthodologiques quant à la culture archéologique Mochica. À la suite des nombreux travaux qu’ils ont suscités, les « Mochica » sont aujourd’hui perçus comme un groupe politique ou ethnique, et même comme un état préhistorique. Cet essai remet en question ces postulats et suggère que la culture Mochica a plutôt consisté en un système religieux. Ainsi, les centres cérémoniaux ont probablement été des lieux de pèlerinage importants avec des fonctions politiques plus complexes que ceux que suggèrent les modèles précédents. De même, il faudra considérer la variation de leurs fonctions au fil du temps

The Fall of the Moche: A Critique of Claims for South America's First State

Anthropolog

Elizabeth Polk Benson (13 May 1924-19 March 2018

An appreciation of the life and work of Pre-Columbian art historian Elizabeth Polk Benson.is presented from multiple points of view

The Well and The Huaca: Ceremony, Chronology, and Culture Change at Huaca Cao Viejo, Chicama Valley, Peru

Anthropolog

Dating the Ascope Canal System: Competition for Water during the Late Intermediate Period in the Chicama Valley, North Coast of Peru

Here we present the first C-14 ages for the Ascope Canal System (ACS), a large prehispanic hydraulic network in the Chicama Valley on the north coast of Peru. Composed of multiple alignments that irrigated areas north of the river, our results indicate that the ACS was constructed and operated in the Late Intermediate Period, ca. a.d. 1000-1400. This overlaps in time with the Chicama-Moche Intervalley Canal that diverted water on the south side of the Chicama River and extended to the city of Chan Chan. Conservative estimates of discharge capacity indicate that the combined flow through the canals would have exceeded stream flow in the Chicama River during half of the year. The ACS appears to have functioned for several centuries and would have been in direct competition with the Intervalley Canal. There was, apparently, insufficient water for both systems and other Chicama Valley canals during most of the year. This study underscores the complexities of understanding the operations and histories of irrigation systems in complex societies.National Science Foundation Polar Programs as part of the Long-Term Human Ecodynamics in Coastal Peru: A Case Study of Polar-Tropical Teleconnections [1152156]18 month embargo; published online: 31 October 2017This item from the UA Faculty Publications collection is made available by the University of Arizona with support from the University of Arizona Libraries. If you have questions, please contact us at [email protected]