Nasca (Other Keyword)
1-14 (14 Records)
This paper reports on the 2014 field season at Cerro Tortolita, a predominantly Early Intermediate Period (EIP) site in the Upper Ica Valley. While the site has been known archaeologically for at least four decades, no systematic investigation has ever been undertaken there. Our work documented the numerous sectors of the site and through vertical excavations established a preliminary chronology. We found that the site has an extensive ceremonial/ritual component including a U-shaped platform...
Early Maize on the South Coast? (2015)
Presently evidence for the earliest domesticated maize in the Central Andes comes from the north coast of Peru. Dating to the Middle Preceramic this early maize consists of Proto-Confite Morocho and Confite Chavinense, which were primitive types of popcorn. In contrast, little is known about the early use of maize on the south coast. A cob of Confite Chavinense was found in a Preceramic context at the site of La Tiza in southern Nasca. Surrounding contexts, including a hearth, date the context...
Hematite (Ochre) mining and use on the South Coast of Peru ca. AD 1-400 (2016)
Located in the Nasca region of southern Peru, Mina Primavera was an important source of hematite for centuries, and in particular, was intensively exploited by people of the Nasca culture for a variety of end products. Here we explore technical and ritual dimensions involved in the mining process. We also present new data on iron isotopic (56Fe/54Fe) diversity from a single hematite source as information that is critical in sourcing and provenience. The new data are compared to previously...
The Human/Animal Continuum in Nasca Sculptural Ceramics (c. 1-450) (2015)
Studies of Nasca polychrome ceramic iconography from many phases identify shamans in various roles. In ceremonial scenes shamans drink from cups filled with the entheogenic pulp of the San Pedro cactus, dance, play instruments, don costumes as supernatural imitators, and preside over rituals related to agriculture. Rarely however, is less immediately understandable ceramic imagery interpreted through the lens of shamanism as a Nasca worldview. Shamanic thinking privileges ambiguousness, trance...
INAA of Loro Ceramics from Zorropata, a Middle Horizon Las Trancas Habitation Site in Nasca, Peru (2017)
Early in the Middle Horizon (c. AD 650-1000), the Wari Empire expanded from its Ayacucho homeland and established at least three colonies (Pacheco, Pataraya, and Inkawasi) in the Southern Nasca Region (SNR) on the South Coast of Peru. Concomitant with the Wari presence local settlement patterns underwent dramatic reorganization. Large portions of the population shifted from the Nasca and Taruga Valleys south to the Las Trancas Valley – away from and perhaps in contention with the Wari. A new...
Investigations of Nasca-Wari Interaction and Imperial Expansion during the Middle Horizon: A View from the Las Trancas Valley, Nasca, Peru. (2015)
During the Middle Horizon (AD 750-1000) the Wari Empire established at least three colonies (Pacheco, Pataraya, and Inkawasi) in the Nasca Valley and its tributaries. Archaeological survey of the Southern Nasca Region conducted by Katharina Schreiber and students in previous decades observed dramatic changes to the local settlement patterns during this period (Edwards 2010, Schreiber 1999). The number and size of habitation sites in the Nasca and Taruga Valleys decreased but increased in the Las...
Mummy Bundles Found at Huaca del Loro (2023)
This is an abstract from the "Almost 100 Years since Julio C. Tello: Research at Huaca del Loro, Nasca, Peru" session, at the 88th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology. Huaca de Loro in Nasca is an important Wari colony in the Nasca region. Two recent field seasons at the site revealed new information on the relationship between Nasca and Wari during the Middle Horizon (650–1000 CE), such as a D-shaped temple and an associated compound indicative of Wari presence and...
Nasca Lines, Ceramic Sherds, and Social Changes: Recent Investigation at the Nasca Pampas, Southern Coast of Peru. (2015)
The objective of this study is to discuss the social changes of the societies in the Nasca region, the south coast of Peru through the analysis of ceramic sherds distributed near the lines and line centers. In 1926 the Nasca lines had been discovered by Alfred Kroeber and was investigated archaeo-astronomically by Paul Kosok and María Reich. At the 1980' Anthony Aveni and his colleagues carried out investigation at the pampas and contributed to reveal the detail of the Nasca lines and centers....
Nasca-Wari Interaction and Imperial Expansion during the Middle Horizon: Excavations at Zorropata, Nasca, Peru (2016)
The Middle Horizon (AD 750-1000) was a tumultuous time in the Nasca region, located on the south coast of Peru. The highland-centered Wari Empire established at least three colonies (Pacheco, Pataraya, and Inkawasi) in the Nasca Valley and its tributaries (Edwards 2010). Local settlement patterns changed drastically in response (Edwards 2010, Schreiber 1999). The number and size of habitation sites in the Nasca and Taruga Valleys decreased but increased in the Las Trancas Valley, away from and...
Nuevas evidencias desde Cerro Tortolita un sitio del Intermedio Temprano en la costa sur del Perú-Ica (2021)
This is an abstract from the "Developments through Time on the South Coast of Peru: In Memory of Patrick Carmichael" session, at the 86th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology. Nuestra investigación busca entender la relación entre la religión y la política en contextos domésticos durante la época Nasca. Es así que Cerro Tortolita (valle de alto de Ica), dada su naturaleza y escala constructiva; el cual incluye un componente ceremonial y otro residencial; constituye un sitio...
Production and Pilgrimage: Summarizing a Decade of INAA in the Southern Nasca Region (2016)
This poster presents a comprehensive evaluation of INAA work on ceramics from the Southern Nasca Region from the Early Horizon through the Late Intermediate period. For the first time we present previously unpublished work from the Las Trancas Valley in Nasca. The results from the analysis confirm previous studies suggesting centralized production in the region during the Early Intermediate period and decentralized production before and after this period. We attribute this long-term pattern to...
Really ugly Nasca pots of ancient Peru, and why they are important. (2017)
Polychrome ceramics of the Nasca culture (south coast of Peru, c. 100 BC - AD 600) are world renowned as one of the most colorful and artistically complex creations of the ancient Americas. Up to ten distinct colors depicting fabulous supernatural creatures adorn unique vessel forms with eggshell thin walls fixed in perfect oxidizing firings. Such masterpieces fill art books and spawn enthusiastic but fanciful speculations about Nasca society and its artisans. This paper rounds out the view of...
Saving Sites: One Looting Step at a Time (2017)
To be able to preserve looted sites, one must identify the patterns and develop prevention strategies to avoid further looting. The illegal antiquities trade has had its’ roots in the archaeological field since the beginning of time. One of the reasons why looting happens is because of the collectors’ widespread interest in the rich, cultural materials that are found at cultural heritage sites. Therefore, preservation of looted sites is critical in archaeology. The dire threat of looted...
A Second Room of the Posts? Ceremonialism at La Marcha during Late Nasca and the Middle Horizon (2015)
Preliminary investigations of the La Marcha site have revealed a key residential, mortuary, and ceremonial locale in the Las Trancas Valley. While initial use of the site occurred during the late Formative, here we report on the considerable Late Nasca and Middle Horizon occupation. In addition to residential zones, we documented large plazas with huarango post features similar to those at Estaquería and Cahuachi. These include complexes of up to 9 posts, oriented in rectilinear clusters along...