MERCEDES CARDENAS M. Esta obra está sujeta a licencia Creative Commons: Reconocimiento-NoComercial-SinObrasDerivadas, 3.0 Ecuador (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ec/). Se permite la reproducción total o parcial y la comunicación pública de la obra, siempre que no sea con finalidades comerciales y siempre que se reconozca la autoría de la obra original. No se permite la creación de obras derivadas. Stiftung Volkswagenwerk A Chronology of the Use of Marine Resources in Ancient Perú MERCEDES CARDENAS M. PONTIFICIA UNIVERSIDAD CATOLICA DEL PERU INSTITUTO RIVA-AGÜERO SEMINARIO DE ARQUEOLOGIA 1979 PREFACE The archaeological project titled A Chronology of the Use of Marine Resources in Ancient Peru was designed by Dr. Josefina Ramos Cox (d. 1974), and its principal aim was to relate the measurement of time with socio-economic activities of the people of coastal Peru during four thousand years. This interest arose in 1964 when the Pontifical Catholic University o f Peru began excavating the Huaca Tres Palos-Fundo Pando (in the Rimac Valley), which revealed a group of 96 ceremonial pits related to astronomical observation, which form the upper platform. During the search for comparative data, it was possible to find references to astronomical observations of the Incas in chronicles of the 16th and 17th centuries, and various statements concerning pre-Inca astronomy in archaeological literature. Dr. Cox pointed out the necessity of making a full archaeological investigation in order to find evidence of inter-relation among economic activities, settlement patterns and time measurement, as well as to obtain a chronological sequence for these activities. In this publication we present briefly several of the most important aspects of the carrying-out of this project and the chronological tables obtained for the valleys studied. The project was carried out under the sponsorship of the Stiftung Wolkswagen- werk of the Federal Republic of Germany. Through their contribution, archaeometry has been introduced for the first time in Peru: carbon 14 dating in the Catholic University, thermoluminescence, fission tracks and Moessbauer techniques in the Universidad Nacional de Ingeniería. 2 Publicación del Instituto Riva-Agüero No. 104 I. Introduction Background. In 1974, the Volkswagen Foundation of Hannover, West Germany, provided a grant which would supply a significant impulse in the development of Peruvian archaeology. This aid consisted of giving the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru the necessary means for setting up a laboratory of techniques of archaeolo­ gical measurements which would amplify the chronological knowledge of our an­ cient cultures. The Archeological Seminar of the Riva Agüero Institute of Catholic University presented the project A Chronology of the Use of Marine Resources in Ancient Peru to supply the archaeological material necessary to be processed in the new laboratories. The hypothesis of the work set out to prove the existence of insti­ tutionalized activities directed toward conserving and increasing the micro-ecolo­ gical resources during the last 4000 years on the Peruvian coast. Field work was carried out from August 1975 to November 1977. The valleys studied have been: the Sechura Desert in Bajo Piura and the valleys of Chao, Santa, Huaura, Rimac and Lurin. It has been possible to locate a total of 1043 archaeolo­ gical sites, more than 50% of them hitherto unknown to Peruvian archaeology; the detailed reports of the projects are contained in the field reports of each investi­ gator, and in the Preliminary and Final Reports. Through the chronological co­ lumns obtained, we have confirmed the project hypotheses set up initially, and also have new evidence concerning ecology, social organization and systematic applica­ tion of astronomical and mathematical knowledge. At this time, thanks to the Volkswagen Foundation grant, we have a laboratory equipped for cartography, aerial photography, archaeological site registration, docu­ mental and photographic archives and transportation equipment for field work. The present publication aims at informing the general public about the project and its significance in the advance of Peruvian archaeology. For this reason, we have avoided, as much as possible, the use of technical words and the overuse of special­ ized scientific data, which can be examined in the Preliminary and General Reports. The following took part in the field work: Carlos Milla Villena in prospecting and listing of archaeological sites; Jaime Deza, Cirilo Huapaya, Walter Alva and Mercedes Cárdenas in the excavations; Victor Alamo and Blanca Huapaya in marine biology. Gloria Olivera de Bueno co-ordinated laboratory work. The Catholic University thanks the Volkswagen Foundation for its generous aid which, in disinterested fashion which imposed no conditions, has made it possible for a group of Peruvian researchers to carry out a complex project on a large geographical scale to a successful finish. The technology developed and the experi­ 3 ence acquired remain at the service of Peruvian archaeology. Cangrejera, Trap for catching crabs. Site of Paraíso, Huaura Valley, 280 —50 B.C. This work is the result of the effort of many people: those whose participation was active (investigators, advisors, students) and the authorities of our university. We have met with the enthusiastic collaboration and help of different persons who offered us their friendship in the places where we carried out our field work. II. Presentation of the Project a. Planning General hypotheses. From the study of material evidence of Ancient Peru it may be suggestecl that more than 4000 years ago an institutionalized search was begun for forms of planning and conservation and increase of microecological resources. In the 4000 years of this development, these structures became complex through interaction with civil authority, with rural and urban development and with migra­ tions and conquests. Limits of the project. We have tried to observe the action of these forms of planning in sites where the final portions of irrigation systems interacted with the marine system. Evidence to be checked in the proposed sites: common patterns, through stud­ ies of the substructure related to the temple-observatories and ceremonial centers of 4 the intermediate and Late periods; and special patterns. b. Geographical setting An idea of the setting where we carried out our work may be helpful to the reader. The Peruvian Coast is the littoral strip called Chala and Yunga situated between the Pacific Ocean and the cordillera of the Andes. The valleys are short, with rivers of irregular volume. The Humboldt and Niño currents determine its ecology. The coastal valleys receive waters coming from the western flank of the Andean cordillera. Some offer conditions more favorable to human settlement, such as the Santa and Huaura valleys, others, like Sechura and Chao, a very difficult environment. In Bajo Piura, the desert of Sechura, with very high temperatures and now without water, there was the longitudinal transit route between Piura and Lamba- yeque (photo 1) and the cross route east to Porculla. The small and narrow valley of Chao is rapidly becoming desert. The Santa valley has very fertile land and there is water throughout the year. The valleys of Huaura, Rimac and Lurin have rivers of varying volume. There are similarities and differences between the valleys studied. The beaches of Santa, Huaura, Rimac and Lurin lie alongside the cultivated fields; Sechura and Chao are similar in their beaches, lacking in vegetation and watercourses. Pro­ nounced changes in the geomorphology are to be seen in the coastal profile, such as the fossil bay of Salinas de Chao (photo 2), where the sea has receded almost four kilometers. The cultivated areas in Santa, Huaura, Rimac and Lurin permit good harvests, in Chao they are poor and much affected by saltpetre, the valley of Bajo Piura has rich lands endangered by the advance of the desert. Water is vital for the settlements. The Huaura, Rimac and Lurin rivers have irregular volume. There is an excess all year in the Santa river, the Chao river is a ghost river, permanently dry. The Piura river has sufficient water for the lower valley but the water disappears as it enters the Sechura desert. 1. Sechura Desert, Quebrada Honda in the Macao de IIleseas, with the sea in the distance at the left. > 1 2. Fossil bay of the Salinas de Chao. 3. Puquio de A vie, located between the cliffs of the Macizo de Illescas, Sechura Desert. 4. Preceramic structure in the Salinas de Chao. S. Pampa of Quitasueño, 6. Pampas of Tizal. linking the Santa and Chao Valleys Preceramic road, linking Chao with Vine A partial solution to the scarcity of water are the subterranean springs called puquios. There are several in the Chao valley which aid cultivation in small sectors on the left bank; in the coastal sector of the Sechura desert we have found three in / ' o 1 V > / the Macizo de Illescas, where the wild animals go to drink (photo 3). There are parts of the valleys and the desert where old riverbeds indicate a larger quantity of 5 musió r i* ANifJOPOlOGICO o ' water in Pre-hispanic times. w "ANTC/i.'Q E ! Salt is of great use to man. The existence of salt deposits in the Sechura desert I (Lake Ramón), in Chao (Las Salinas), in Santa (Las Salinas) and in Huaura (Salinas de Huacho) which were worked even into the present century and also are related to archaeological remains, shows that salt was a natural resource of great value to the ancient inhabitants for salting and barter with distant regions lacking in salt (photo 4). We have been interested in learning about the natural travel routes. There is evidence of routes followed along the coastal profile of the Sechura desert marked by the continuity of the shell mounds of Mórrope; in Chao and Santa there is a network of lengthwise and crosswise routes which united both valleys over fields and ravines (photos 5, 6); in Huaura there is a natural communication toward the Supe valley; between Rimac and Luri'n there are natural routes, communicating with each other not only along the coast but across steep ravines.