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Sechin Alto

Sechin Alto is a massive architectural complex in Peru belonging to the Early Formative period (2000-1500 BC). It is located in the Casma Province, the Ancash Region, on the left bank of the Sechín River, east of the town of the same name. Other important archaeological sites such as Cerro Sechin and Sechin Bajo are located nearby.

Studies edit

Archaeologist Julio C. Tello was the first to make a thorough description of this archaeological site during his visit to the valley of Casma in 1937. He determined that this was the largest architectural structure not only in Peru, but in all of the Americas. The site was later studied by archaeologists es:Rosa Fung Pineda and Carlos Williams (1979), and by Thomas and Shelia Pozorski (1987).

Description edit

The main structure, called "Templo", has a pyramidal shape. It measures 350m by 300m, and reaches the height of 35m. It consists of raised embankments and walls with large stones alternating with smaller ones; conical adobe bricks are seen in the interior. In front of the "Templo" extend five courts or plazas, some with sunken circular courts; this indicates the ceremonial character of the whole complex. The complex is oriented to the northwest, and its length is about 2 km.

Around this complex, numerous smaller structures – all oriented along the main axes – are distributed. Currently, these areas are used for agriculture, so they have not yet been studied. The whole of Sechin Alto complex covers the area of 300-400 hectares, or five times the size of Caral, one of the largest Archaic sites in Peru.

Because of its size, this may have been the administrative center of the whole Sechin cultural area.

Related sites edit

This area represents the confluence of Sechin and Casma rivers, and there are several other important sites here. In front of Sechin Alto, on the other side of Sechin River, is the complex of Sechin Bajo with its ancient occupation going back to 3,500 BC.

The more famous nearby site is called Cerro Sechin, located southwest along the same bank of Sechin River. It is known for its high stone walls with reliefs depicting "warrior-priests" with their mutilated enemies; this architectural complex dates back to 1,500-2,000 BC. The stone reliefs belong to the latest construction phase.

Sechin Alto is the largest of the four main sites in this area. According to S. Pozorski, the other three big sites, Taukachi-Konkan, Sechin Bajo, and Cerro Sechin, feature numerous similarities, and may have been constructed at the same time,

"Critical to the definition of the Sechin Alto Complex were the consistent orientation and similarity in mound form and site layout of Sechin Alto site, Taukachi-Konkan, and Sechin Bajo. Cerro Sechin was included based on its physical proximity to the other sites and its conical adobe constructions which suggested contemporaneity with the other sites. The component sites of Sechin Alto, Taukachi Konkan, Sechin Bajo, and Cerro Sechin were assumed to be coexistent and in continuous interaction, forming an immense settlement that occupied much of the floodplain in the northern Sechin Branch of the Casma River during the Initial Period (2150—1000 BC)."[1]

Political organization edit

According to the Pozorskis, the earliest cultural phase in this area may be described as the Moxeke (Mojeque) Phase. This was during the early Initial Period. After this, there was the Sechin Phase.

"Preliminary data suggesting connections among Sechin Alto Complex sites, Pampa de las Llamas-Moxeke in the south branch, and certain coastal sites north of the Casma River mouth indicate that the greater Casma Valley area was unified during the early Initial Period by the Moxeke polity which existed during a time span defined here as the Moxeke Phase. Near the end of the Initial Period, during the time span labeled here as the Sechin Phase, political power became centralized by the Sechin polity within the Sechin branch as Pampa de las Llamas Moxeke ceased to be occupied; and the coastal site of Las Haldas, which had long existed in isolation, was incorporated as a major satellite of Sechin Alto Complex sites."[2]

See also edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ SHELIA POZORSKI AND THOMAS POZORSKI (2002), The Sechin Alto Complex and Its Place Within Casma Valley Initial Period Development. in Andean Archaeology I. doi:10.1007/978-1-4615-0639-3_2
  2. ^ SHELIA POZORSKI AND THOMAS POZORSKI (2002), The Sechin Alto Complex and Its Place Within Casma Valley Initial Period Development. in Andean Archaeology I. doi:10.1007/978-1-4615-0639-3_2

References edit

  • SHELIA POZORSKI AND THOMAS POZORSKI (2002), The Sechin Alto Complex and Its Place Within Casma Valley Initial Period Development. in Andean Archaeology I doi:10.1007/978-1-4615-0639-3_2
  • Kauffmann Doig, Federico: Historia y arte del Perú antiguo. Tomo 1, p. 133. Lima, Ediciones PEISA, 2002. ISBN 9972-40-213-4
  • Kaulicke, Peter: El Perú Antiguo I. Los períodos arcaico y formativo, p. 51. Colección Historia del Perú, editada por la Empresa Editora El Comercio S.A. Lima, 2010. ISBN 978-612-4069-86-4
  • Silva Sifuentes, Jorge E. T.: Origen de las civilizaciones andinas. Incluida en la Historia del Perú. Lima, Lexus Editores, 2000. ISBN 9972-625-35-4
  • Williams, Carlos: Arquitectura y urbanismo en el antiguo Perú Incluida en “Historia del Perú”, Tomo VIII, Perú Republicano y procesos e instituciones, pp. 428–429. Lima, Editorial Mejía Baca, 1980.

External links edit

  • Cerro Sechin and Sechin Alto - photos and detailed description

9°27′55″S 78°14′33″W / 9.4654°S 78.2426°W / -9.4654; -78.2426

sechin, alto, this, article, about, archaeological, site, civilization, belonged, casma, sechin, culture, massive, architectural, complex, peru, belonging, early, formative, period, 2000, 1500, located, casma, province, ancash, region, left, bank, sechín, rive. This article is about the archaeological site For the civilization it belonged to see Casma Sechin culture Sechin Alto is a massive architectural complex in Peru belonging to the Early Formative period 2000 1500 BC It is located in the Casma Province the Ancash Region on the left bank of the Sechin River east of the town of the same name Other important archaeological sites such as Cerro Sechin and Sechin Bajo are located nearby Contents 1 Studies 2 Description 3 Related sites 3 1 Political organization 4 See also 5 Notes 6 References 7 External linksStudies editArchaeologist Julio C Tello was the first to make a thorough description of this archaeological site during his visit to the valley of Casma in 1937 He determined that this was the largest architectural structure not only in Peru but in all of the Americas The site was later studied by archaeologists es Rosa Fung Pineda and Carlos Williams 1979 and by Thomas and Shelia Pozorski 1987 Description editThe main structure called Templo has a pyramidal shape It measures 350m by 300m and reaches the height of 35m It consists of raised embankments and walls with large stones alternating with smaller ones conical adobe bricks are seen in the interior In front of the Templo extend five courts or plazas some with sunken circular courts this indicates the ceremonial character of the whole complex The complex is oriented to the northwest and its length is about 2 km Around this complex numerous smaller structures all oriented along the main axes are distributed Currently these areas are used for agriculture so they have not yet been studied The whole of Sechin Alto complex covers the area of 300 400 hectares or five times the size of Caral one of the largest Archaic sites in Peru Because of its size this may have been the administrative center of the whole Sechin cultural area Related sites editThis area represents the confluence of Sechin and Casma rivers and there are several other important sites here In front of Sechin Alto on the other side of Sechin River is the complex of Sechin Bajo with its ancient occupation going back to 3 500 BC The more famous nearby site is called Cerro Sechin located southwest along the same bank of Sechin River It is known for its high stone walls with reliefs depicting warrior priests with their mutilated enemies this architectural complex dates back to 1 500 2 000 BC The stone reliefs belong to the latest construction phase Sechin Alto is the largest of the four main sites in this area According to S Pozorski the other three big sites Taukachi Konkan Sechin Bajo and Cerro Sechin feature numerous similarities and may have been constructed at the same time Critical to the definition of the Sechin Alto Complex were the consistent orientation and similarity in mound form and site layout of Sechin Alto site Taukachi Konkan and Sechin Bajo Cerro Sechin was included based on its physical proximity to the other sites and its conical adobe constructions which suggested contemporaneity with the other sites The component sites of Sechin Alto Taukachi Konkan Sechin Bajo and Cerro Sechin were assumed to be coexistent and in continuous interaction forming an immense settlement that occupied much of the floodplain in the northern Sechin Branch of the Casma River during the Initial Period 2150 1000 BC 1 Political organization edit According to the Pozorskis the earliest cultural phase in this area may be described as the Moxeke Mojeque Phase This was during the early Initial Period After this there was the Sechin Phase Preliminary data suggesting connections among Sechin Alto Complex sites Pampa de las Llamas Moxeke in the south branch and certain coastal sites north of the Casma River mouth indicate that the greater Casma Valley area was unified during the early Initial Period by the Moxeke polity which existed during a time span defined here as the Moxeke Phase Near the end of the Initial Period during the time span labeled here as the Sechin Phase political power became centralized by the Sechin polity within the Sechin branch as Pampa de las Llamas Moxeke ceased to be occupied and the coastal site of Las Haldas which had long existed in isolation was incorporated as a major satellite of Sechin Alto Complex sites 2 See also editCasma Sechin culture Cultural periods of Peru Ancient Peru Andean preceramicNotes edit SHELIA POZORSKI AND THOMAS POZORSKI 2002 The Sechin Alto Complex and Its Place Within Casma Valley Initial Period Development in Andean Archaeology I doi 10 1007 978 1 4615 0639 3 2 SHELIA POZORSKI AND THOMAS POZORSKI 2002 The Sechin Alto Complex and Its Place Within Casma Valley Initial Period Development in Andean Archaeology I doi 10 1007 978 1 4615 0639 3 2References editSHELIA POZORSKI AND THOMAS POZORSKI 2002 The Sechin Alto Complex and Its Place Within Casma Valley Initial Period Development in Andean Archaeology I doi 10 1007 978 1 4615 0639 3 2 Kauffmann Doig Federico Historia y arte del Peru antiguo Tomo 1 p 133 Lima Ediciones PEISA 2002 ISBN 9972 40 213 4 Kaulicke Peter El Peru Antiguo I Los periodos arcaico y formativo p 51 Coleccion Historia del Peru editada por la Empresa Editora El Comercio S A Lima 2010 ISBN 978 612 4069 86 4 Silva Sifuentes Jorge E T Origen de las civilizaciones andinas Incluida en la Historia del Peru Lima Lexus Editores 2000 ISBN 9972 625 35 4 Williams Carlos Arquitectura y urbanismo en el antiguo Peru Incluida en Historia del Peru Tomo VIII Peru Republicano y procesos e instituciones pp 428 429 Lima Editorial Mejia Baca 1980 External links editCerro Sechin and Sechin Alto photos and detailed description 9 27 55 S 78 14 33 W 9 4654 S 78 2426 W 9 4654 78 2426 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Sechin Alto amp oldid 1179443979, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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