Ancient urban life at the Early Horizon center of Caylán, Peru

Abstract

This article examines the development of urban forms of community organization on the north-central coast of Peru during the 1st millennium B.C. Recent mapping and excavations at the Early Horizon center of Caylá n, in the Nepeñ a Valley, provide insights into the nucleation of human groups at an extensive valley floor complex. The results indicate the establishment of an urban core around cross-cutting avenues, while architectural data point towards the existence of multi-functional residential stone-and-mud walled compounds. The density of the architectural remains combined with the abundance of refuse is indicative of a significant urban population. The Caylá n research sheds light on the development of urbanism after the demise of the Chavín sphere of interaction.

Population density and size facilitate interactive capacity and the rise of the state

“…We note, too, that the SPD decline is not statistically significant; it may also, as cautioned earlier, reflect the erosion of final monument stages as much as any density decrease; and there are large north coast EH sites without monumental architecture (e.g. [69]). Higher precision chronological modelling approaches such as Bayesian methods [70] might shed further light on the issue, and therefore we advise that future research continue to investigate relationships between population and ENSO events.…”

6 Gated Communities, Neighborhoods, and Modular Living at the Early Horizon Urban Center of Caylán, Peru

“…Nepeña is perhaps most famous for the discovery of spectacular painted murals and friezes at the temples of Pañamarca, Punkurí and Cerro Blanco in the 1930s and 1950s (Bonavia ; Tello ) (Figure ). Recently, fieldwork in the valley has brought valuable insights into previously unknown forms of early urban arrangements (Chicoine and Ikehara ). The beginning of the Early Horizon, or local Nepeña phase (800–450 BCE ) (Table ), marked the emergence of dense human clusters, especially on the valley margins.…”

“…They confirmed that most structures belong to an intense occupation during the Early Horizon. It is currently radiocarbon dated to 800–1 cal BCE (2σ), with most dates clustering between 410 and 200 cal BCE (2σ) (Chicoine and Ikehara , 348). The ruins were later reoccupied as cemeteries, especially during the Late Intermediate period (1000–1470 CE) by groups residing in the adjacent Pan de Azúcar Complex (PV31‐29).…”

“…This semi‐public space was often complemented by raised benches. Excavations indicate that some of the benches were decorated with spectacular friezes that likely indexed and; affirmed group identity (Chicoine and Ikehara , 344, fig. 6).…”

“…Excavations at Plaza‐A shed light on the mechanisms of gates used to keep visitors out of the more private rooms (Figure ). Overall, various lines of architectural, acoustic, and artistic evidence indicate that that the plazas were engineered as special places where residents gathered and entertained guests (Chicoine and Ikehara , 344‐45; Helmer and Chicoine ; Helmer, Chicoine, and Ikehara ).…”