In the Article “A sacred effigy from Mina Perdida and the unseen ceremonies of the Peruvian Formative,” the authors discussed their investigations at the site of Mina Perdida. They discussed its similarities to other sites as well as the significance and characteristics of the sacred effigy which was discovered at the main structure’s back terrace. According to the authors Richard L. Burger and Lucy Salazar-Burger, Mina Perdida is one of six U-shaped complexes which has been identified in the lower Lurín Valley and is by far the largest at 30 hectares. (Burger and Salazar-Burger 33). The site consists of a massive central platform mound that rises to 23 meters in height of which the main pyramid is terraced; it has a massive central stairway …show more content…
These three sites all share the U-shaped feature that is seen at several Initial Period sites. Although they are not identical, they contain the same form with some variation. These structures have a central pyramid mound as well as two arms of which are not equal but that are complementary. Also, the authors suggest that investigations of Initial Period sites have indicated that the sole purpose at these sites was to allow for social gatherings as well as religious rituals. In the case of Mina Perdida, the discovery of the sacred effigy provided investigators with some clues as to what types of ceremonies and activities were taking place. Garagay and Cardal both had designated areas for ritual and ceremonial use. Investigators have had difficulty understanding the ceremonies that took place at these sites because items that were used in the ceremonies were no longer in their original context; this is the case as many of these items were destroyed or stored elsewhere once their ritual purpose was fulfilled (Burger and Salazar-Burger …show more content…
The sacred effigy found at Mina Perdida had very unique characteristics. It had “Four deep vertical wrinkles above the nose and between the eyes which is a characteristic known from the Initial Period and Early Horizon religious iconography” (Berger and Salazar-Berger 41). The effigy is believed to represent a supernatural being although many of its characteristics resemble that of an anthropomorphic figure (Berger and Salazar-Berger 49). According to Berger and Salazar-Berger, it is the eyes and fangs of the effigy which suggest its supernatural character. The effigy’s human like features include: shape of limbs, number of digits on both the hands and feet, and its body’s proportions (Berger and Salazar-Berger 45). The limbs were held together by a gourd (Berger and Salazar-Burger 40). Another similarity between the effigy found at Mina Perdida and other Initial period objects is that they tend to share both avian and feline attributes (Berger and Salazar-Berger 50). Crest features on the effigy’s face were said to be inspired by the Andean condor (Berger and Salazar-Berger 42). These bird features which are seen in the iconography of many other sites are associated with the idea of
To identify the specific type, functions and time period of the artifacts, various archaeology books, reports, and journal were referred. The interpretation was then conducted by dividing the artifacts into different area on the map and investigating their relationships.
The Old Temple was built during the late Initial Period and it was the “center of supernatural power and authority.” It was a U-shaped platform opening to the east with a circular courtyard in the center. The Old Temple also consisted of numerous passageways and chambers underground called galleries. These galleries were used for storage chambers, religious rites, and possibly temporary or permanent living for small groups working with temple activities. The Lanzon Gallery is located at the very center of the Old Temple. It was where the sculpture of the Lanzon was found. The Lanzon, the supreme deity of Chavin de Huantar, is anthropomorphic. With its feline head and human body, it has intertwined the feline deity of Chavin de Huantar and the shaman of the pre-Chavin period.
Noble, D. G. (1985). Understanding the Anasazi of mesa verde and hovenweep. Pgs. 35-37. Santa Fe: Ancient City Press.
Architecture, like many things, can also be made for the use of or inspired by the symbols people believe in. Therefore, art and architecture in Ancient Mesoamerica can be stated to be made for the use of religious symbols. Making architecture and art forms takes effort, dedication, and patience. Architecture can take years to make, as was s...
The Olmecs are the earliest known Mesoamerican civilization. Around 1200 B.C. the Olmecs originated as a primitive people living and farming on the shores of Mexico (Stanton 91). Soon, however, they began to build cities such as San Lorenzo, La Venta, and Monte Alban. These “cities” were religious centers where people gathered to worship, and were not populated (Stanton 91). The first of these centers, San Lorenzo, was built c. 1150 B.C., on a flat topped, man-made mountain. It was mysteriously abandoned 200 years later (Stanton 92-93). La Venta, built between 1000 and 600 B.C., sat on an island in a swamp (Stanton 93). Later, around 500 B.C., Monte Alban, which was used as a religious center even after the Olmecs faded, was built on an immense mountain (Stanton 93). The cities were made up of temples and plazas, and decorated by monumental stone heads, which weighed up to 50 tons (Stanton 93)! These heads probably represented their early kings and had distinct helmets (Kingfisher 32). It is incredible how the Olmec people transported the stone from the distant mountains to La Venta, near the shore, without the aid of work animals or carts. It appears that the Olmecs did this grueling work for their gods willingly, as there is no evidence of forced labor (Stanton 93). The Olmecs probably worshipped the jaguar, as it appears so often in their artwork. There are also many e...
In the Central America, most notably the Yucatan Peninsula, are the Maya, a group of people whose polytheistic religion and advanced civilization once flourished (Houston, 43). The Maya reached their peak during the Classic Period from around CE 250 to the ninth century CE when the civilization fell and dispersed (Sharer, 1). Although much has been lost, the gods and goddesses and the religious practices of the Classic Maya give insight into their lives and reveal what was important to this society.
According to Kamp 1997, Sinagua is described as archaeological culture that originated from parts of Northern and central Arizona. The book covers extensively process on the archaeological investigation. This is where Kamp take the reader through selection process of research area and site. She also shows importance of complying with archaeological excavation laws and regulations. The book also offers a good insight on the excavation strategies, site mapping as well as artifact analysis and dating methods (Kamp, 1997). She explains in details and relate successfully archaeological dating methods that include stratigraphy, seriation and absolute dating methods with Lizard Man Case (Kamp, 1997). The information offered is well explained and of great importance even to
A land dominated by two colossal pyramids and an extensive sacred avenue, Teotihuacan became considered a spiritual land to most inhabiters. Teotihuacan itself means, “the place where the Gods were created” or “where men became Gods”, reflecting the belief of the Aztecs that the creation of the universe occurred on that very land. (Jarus, Owen. 2012) The Temple of Quetzalcoatl along with the Pyramid of the Sun and Moon, all stand out as the monumental distinguishing characteristics of Teotihuacan. Standing sixty three meters tall and two hundred and fifteen meters square in the heart of the city, shadowed by the massive mountains of Cerro Gordo you’ll find the Pyramid of the Sun. (History.com Staff. 2009) It’s no secret that to this day it is one of the largest structure ever erected during the ancient Americas. Traveling west among the silhouettes of the mountains lies the second largest structure in Mesoamerica, the Pyramid of the Moon. Holding equal historical and religious value as the ...
...tures are built in the attempt to be noticed for their cultural significance but not as a main religious gathering place, and they both have spacious ambulatories for flow of spectators. Now in contrast of the two monuments, the pair have differences in their imagery, exterior as well as added spacing. The Dome of the Rock has mosaics on its exterior and interior and the mosaics are non representational. The overall shape of the temple is simply a dome on a octagonal base. However, San Vitale has multiple images of figures and animals but excludes it to only its interior. In addition, unlike the Dome of the Rock, its floor plan consists of a narthax, two towers, an apse and two chapels. By studying these monuments, it is possible to understand the importance of religious or cultural imagery as well as limiting materials for construction in these distinctive areas.
The people who inhabited this ancient site considered it to be magical because of the Andes Mountains and the Amazon River. The Temple of the Condor was a place of worship where the head of the condor was used as an altar for sacrifices. The Intihuatana is a column of stone that is rising from a block of stone. As winter approached, a priest held a ceremony to prevent the sun from disappearing. Intihuatana means ‘for tying the sun’ and ‘hitching post of the sun.’ Intihuatanas in other Incan civilizations were destroyed by the Spanish. However, the Spanish never found Machu Picchu, th...
Ventura R. Perez (2006) THE POLITIZATION OF THE DEAD: AN ANALYSIS OF CUTMARK MORHOLOGY AND CULTURALLU MODIFIED HUMAN REMAINS FROM LA PLATA AND PENASCO BLANCO (A.D 900-1300). Dissertation
This desert is in an arid area between the Andes mountain range and the Pacific Ocean. This desert also lives on an alluvial plain. Furthermore, since its distance stretches four hundred kilometers South of Lima, the Pampas of Jumana covers about four hundred fifty square feet kilometers. Throughout all this land, one theory is believed to be that extraterrestrials left confused people when they came to visit earth and that is the myth on why the Nazca lines were created. Another theory is, believed that Nazca Indians and Lines appeared only after the visitors from other stars naturally visited on earth. The reason why this land is so fascinating is because no one really knows how the Nazca Indians appeared on the Peru desert, and why these Nazca Lines were created on this land. While living in the Peru desert the Nazca Indian grew crops from underground water sources traced on the land. Another way the crops received waters was when the Pacific Ocean’s morning mist wafted to the land, and the trees would trap the water mist in their leaves, so when there was no rain to fully water the lands, the trapped water mist in the trees leaves would water the crops. The Nazca Indians grew crops that highly dependent on water and many of these crops planted back then people eat still to this day. Based on iconography, excavated remains indicate that the Nazca people had a varied diet, composed of corn, squash, sweet, potato, yucca, ginger, banana, and even small traces of various fish. In addition, Na...
The “Sacred Tree,” (fig. 1) was originally positioned behind the king’s throne. The scene shows two genii, sometimes with birds’ heads and sometimes with men’s heads and the horned hats of gods. Each of the winged figures holds a bucket and reaches out with an oval object toward a stylized “tree.” The composition has been read as being based on bilateral symmetry, with the vertical stalk-like structure crowned by a palmette. A meticulous examination reveals that although balanced, it has many discrepancies on both sides that deviate from perfect mirror symmetry. Ashurnasirpal appears twice, shown from two sides, dressed in ceremonial robes and holding a mace connoting his authority. The figure of the king on the right makes an invocative gesture a god in a winged disk in the top center of the relief. Ashur, the national god or Shamash, the god of the sun and justice, may be identified as the god who confers the king divine right. On the left, the king holds a ring, an ancient Mesopotamian symbol of divine kingship, in one...
One of the most key examples of understanding human culture through archaeology is the topic of climate and the environment. As seen through history, there is an intricate relationship between the environment and life on earth. Through extensive research, archaeologists have the ability to take note of minor cultural changes that can be attributed to the environment during a particular time period. These changes include, shifts in methods of food collection, changes in the artwor...
The Maya culture has a long history that started in about 1000 BC. The history of the Maya is divided up into four different time periods: The Middle Preclassic Period, Late Preclassic Period, Classic Period, and Postclassic Period. The Middle Preclassic Period was when the small areas started to become city-like in the way that they started to build larger temples. The Late Preclassic Period was when the cities began to expand with paved roads and massive pyramids. The Classic Period was the time the Maya civilization hit it’s peak. Populations were growing rapidly and the structure of politics was formed. The Postclassic Period was when warfare was on the rise and cities were being abandoned(Coe 2005). This paper will focus on the Classic Period due to the fact that that is the greatest time period in Maya history.