Pacopampa and the Development of Social Complexity in the Jaén Region

Summary

This is an abstract from the "Social Dynamics in the North Highlands of Peru during the Formative Period: Pacopampa project’s Contribution for Understanding the Early Complex Societies in the Andes" session, at the 90th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

Recent research in the Jaén region of the eastern Andean slopes of Northern Peru indicates that this zone was closely linked to cultural developments occurring in the Central Andean highlands during the Formative Period. Indeed, investigations have documented cultural traits and patterns that indicate that Jaén region sites maintained a strong local identity while also establishing interregional relationships with prominent highland Andean centers such as Pacopampa. These patterns are especially evident at the ceremonial center of Ingatambo along the Huancabamba River, which was first occupied during the Initial Formative Period before experiencing major growth during the Middle and Late Formative. By the Pomahuaca phase (1200-800 BC), Ingatambo had adopted both a mound-like structure characteristic of Jaen region sites and a platform structure similar to those found at major ceremonial centers in the northern highlands of Peru. The platform architecture would eventually show strong Pacopampa influence as evident in both the material culture and construction activities.

Through a detailed analysis of excavation results from Ingatambo as well as other Formative sites in the Jaen region, this presentation will focus on the relationship that developed between Pacopampa and the Jaen region, and the influence that these interactions had local sociopolitical developments.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Social Dynamics in the North Highlands of Peru during the Formative Period: Pacopampa project’s Contribution for Understanding the Early Complex Societies in the Andes   •
• Society for American Archaeology 90th Annual Meeting, Denver, CO (2025)

Keywords

Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 50170