South America by Katie Wyer

Guitarrero Cave - Archaic Period 10000bp

kwyer — 2014-11-15 19:27:40 UTC

At 8460 feet above sea level the Guitarrero Cave is located within the Andes mountain range. Here remains of textiles, bones of foreign animals and evidence of plant and animal domestication can be found. The most interesting part about the textiles in the cave is that they are knotted rather than woven.

"here it is the perishable materials that attracted the attracted the most interest. Remains include basketry, textiles, cordage, leather, fire making tools of wood and other wooden tools, and possibly domestic plants."(Thames and Hudson 340)

The Guirarrero cave is estimated to have been inhabited around 10,00 bp.

Chinnchorro - 9000-3800 bp

kwyer — 2014-11-15 19:31:39 UTC

The Chinchorro people lived in the Atacama desert and not a lot is know about them. It is known that the Chinchorro people had a marine based diet. There are many factors from the remains of the Chinchorro mummies that pointed to marine based lifestyles. (Scarre 336) More evidence lies in the fact that there are nets, harpoons, spears, and fishing equipment. "bone chemistry analyses indicate that some 90 percent of the diet was marine-based."(Moseley 2001)

Despite the materials aviable to them and the rich diet of seafood The average of age of the mummies was around 25 years old. High amounts of infant mummies indicated a high infant mortality rate.

Scarre, Christopher. The Human Past: World Prehistory & the Development of Human Societies. 3rd ed. London: Thames & Hudson, 2005.

Preceramic Period 5000-4000 bp

kwyer — 2014-11-15 20:16:31 UTC

During this time there were large mounds and buildings built onto hillsides. A significant grouping of mounds is named Aspero. It was build at the mouth of the Rio Supe. (Scarre 648) It is speculated that because of the lack of domestic debris at these large mounds that perhaps they were more for religious use than for everyday use.

Fire pits are found on top of these mounds. Theories suggest the ritual burning of materials to appease deities or Gods. The number of infant burials in relation to the number of adult burials is strange for this time period. Also the fact that the adult burial sites are undecorated with very little, if at all, grave goods. Where as the infants have caps and other objects placed around and on them.

As well as the strange lack of adult burials the shape is also echoed in the closer past. El Parasio is another such burial moud where there is a U-shaped pattern. With two long mounds on either side of a plaza. Again there is no sign of domestic living at this site.

Scarre, Christopher. The Human Past: World Prehistory & the Development of Human Societies. 3rd ed. London: Thames & Hudson, 2005.

Initial Period 4000-2800 bp

kwyer — 2014-11-15 20:28:53 UTC

Independent culture groups started to emerge, branching out from gourd shaped pottery and developing their own styles. Many of these independent groups probably started up around a ceremonial center.

The ability to specialize the pottery comes from a population expansion thanks in part to the domestication of maize. The domestication started in the highlands and slowly worked it's way down to the plains. It was used to make food and a fermented form of drink known and Chicha. Along with the introduction of domestic maize, textiles began to evolve. Changing from knotted fabric to woven textiles.

Early leaders were based on the cargo system. Where each leader was "elected" for a certain amount of time or for a specific job. Warfare started becoming more prevalent, carved in rocks, which can be also Tinku, a form of blood letting for the Earth God.

The beginnings of the Chavin art style started at the end of this period, influencing later works.

Early Horizon 3000-2200bp

kwyer — 2014-11-15 20:44:35 UTC

The Early Horizon period is a subset of the Initial period. It is characterized by the Chavin style art, goods, and carvings. The mummies of this period are also far different than we've seen since. Previously the mummies were bound and laid stiffly flat. Now they are flexed into a seated position wrapped in cloth. Grave goods were found with these mummies and the appearance of social hierarchy.

Art also changed to reflect the social statuses. Patron art emerged throughout the region, pointing at a shared knowledge of deities and the fact that they shared the same beliefs. Increased warfare is hinted at in both art and architecture through this time period.

Engineering also took a leap forward as shown by the formation of irrigation canals made of mud.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c7/Cabezas_clavas_chavin.jpg/640px-Cabezas_clavas_chavin.jpg

Nazca 2200-1300bp

kwyer — 2014-11-15 21:13:47 UTC

The Nazca were located in a dry desert environment mostly. Situated between two rivers. The most predominant aspect of the Nazca culture are the remaining Nazca lines. There are many different theories for the creation of the lines. Theories include aliens, guides for large birds, maps, or a way to tire out Nazca men to prevent them from siring too many children. (Scarre 660)

Scarre, Christopher. The Human Past: World Prehistory & the Development of Human Societies. 3rd ed. London: Thames & Hudson, 2005.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b1/Lignes_de_Nazca_D%C3%A9cembre_2006_-_Colibri_2.jpg/800px-Lignes_de_Nazca_D%C3%A9cembre_2006_-_Colibri_2.jpg

Wari and Tiwanaku 2200-1300 bp

kwyer — 2014-11-15 21:18:59 UTC

These two regions were both very prevalent during their times. With Wari in the North and Tiwanaku located near Lake Titicaca. Both ruled their respective areas. While there was a lot of interconnection between the two. Mostly the shared Gods.

In Tiwanaku great emphasis was placed on the building of imposing mounds and large temples to be seen by a large number of people at the same time. "Tiwanaku is known for it's renowned for its fine stonework and mounds and courts were faced with well cut masonry."(Scarre 660)

The Wari people had a different way of construction. Giving the fine-cut masonry to only highly important buildings. "The general norm was plaster covered walls of fieldstones set in abundandt mud mortar." (Scarre 660)

Scarre, Christopher. The Human Past: World Prehistory & the Development of Human Societies. 3rd ed. London: Thames & Hudson, 2005.

The Incan Empire 950 bp

kwyer — 2014-11-15 21:29:16 UTC

The Incan empire rose to power as the Wari and Tiwanaku faded out. The empire was helped greatly at the time by the way they conquered and subjugated other peoples. They did this through intermarriage, through gift giving and other peaceful means as well as through warfare. The leader of the Inca was named the Sapa Inca and was thought to be the son of the son of the Sun God.

Several ritual carried over from other cultures. The ritual of Split Inheritance, where each Emperor was entombed with his goods in his sleeping chamber. This ritual required each successor to build his own chambers separate from the last.

Machu Piccu

kwyer — 2014-11-15 21:45:49 UTC

Kenneth R. Wrigh

A Goliath of stonework and art. Machu Piccu is a testement to mankind and what can be accomplished. Many of the workers that the Inca hired or enslaved were from different parts of South America. "almost all of the individuals in the study population were born elsewhere and immigrated to Machu Picchu after childhood."(Turner) This only concretes the fact that the Inca were a widespread empire.

The city of Machu Picchu was created under the rule of Patchacuti. Construction started in 1450 AD. (Write & Zegarra 1) The amount of work that went into creating this lavish city was simply amazing. Each stone was hewn and set together perfectly so that there would be no gaps.

Turner, Bethany. "The Servants of Machu Picchu: Life Histories and Population Dynamics in Late Horizon Peru." Emory.edu. January 1, 2008. Accessed November 16, 2014. https://etd.library.emory.edu/view/record/pid/emory:13zxv.

Wright, Kenneth R., and Alfredo Zegarra. Machu Picchu: A Civil Engineering Marvel. Reston, VA: American Society of Civil Engineers, 2000.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/da/Peru_Machu_Picchu_Sunrise_2.jpg/800px-Peru_Machu_Picchu_Sunrise_2.jpg

Chinchorro Mummies

kwyer — 2014-11-16 04:37:10 UTC

Chinchorro has the first and oldest evidence of mummification. According to Arriaza and Rivera (1995 and 1995 respectively) there are four types of mummies. The first being natural where the bodies were painted and left wrapped in mats and animal skins (around 7000 bc) then in textiles and woven wool (closer to 1700 bc). The next type being "black mummies" aptly named for the black minerals used to paint the bodies. "most complex variety of artificial treatment"(Thames and Hudson 338) Pieces of the body were removed from the skin and the skin salted to preserve the body. This was used from about 5800 to 3800 bc. "Red Mummies" were less elaborate. Only the central cavity was eviscerated and stuffed rather than the entire body. This was used from 3800 to 2100 bc. "Mud Coated Mummies" are the last type. Smoke-dried and coated in mud they were wrapped again in textiles. After this period (2100 to 1700 bc) the Chinchorro people relied on the desert once again to produce mummies.

kwyer — 2014-11-17 02:06:37 UTC

This timeline was created for the Regional Assesment Asignment for weeks 6-8 for a Cascadia Community College Anthropology course.

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