86 architecture: The Americasas the Chavín (900–200 b.c.e.), Paracas (600–175 c.e.), and
Moche (100–600 c.e.) cultures. Th e ecological environment
on the west coast of South America is varied and intense, with
extremely dry areas as well as dense, tropical zones. Traces of
human activity have been located as early as 10,000 b.c.e. in
this part of South America. Th e Preceramic Era (3000–1800
b.c.e.) saw the fi rst evidence of architectural endeavors. As
did Mesoamericans, Andean people during this period creat-
ed temples and plazas, which were oft en reworked over time.
An example of such expansion is found in the city of Kotosh
(settled ca. 2450 b.c.e.), which is northeast of modern-day
Lima. Architecture at Kotosh is characterized by mound
buildings, which were topped by small stone temples, such
as the Temple of the Crossed Hands, which includes adobe
reliefs of two crossed arms.
Community eff ort in building was important in Pre
ceramic Andean culture, in contrast to that of the ancient
Egyptians, who are believed to have used forced labor to build
their monuments. In Andean culture, community identity
was central to cultural tradition, so building labor was not
compulsory. Th is makes the endeavors of this early period
especially astonishing, considering their organization and
accomplishment. Th is ethos of community remained part of
Andean culture throughout pre-Columbian times.
Th e architecture of this period was characterized by
circular or rectangular open-air plazas, which reiterate the
importance of Andean community life. Th e site of Salinas
de Chao features rectangular platforms, terraces, and plazas
(some of which were underground), generally made of stone,
bound by mortar, and covered with clay. Two plazas now
called Unit A and Unit B had stairs leading from the complex
to a subterranean plaza, as well as incised and painted clay
friezes on its walls.
Th e largest Preceramic site, called El Paraíso, dates to ca.
2000 b.c.e. Its complexes are built with 100,000 tons of stone,
which is a particularly astonishing feat of construction. El
Paraíso has two buildings that are situated parallel to each
other at opposite ends of the plaza. Th ere is also a large com-
plex called Unit 1, which has been excavated and explored.
Th e complex has 16 rooms and a red-painted chamber of un-
known purpose.
In the fi rst millennium b.c.e. the Chavín culture created
great platforms that had relief carving. Cerro Sechín, a site
on a granite hill at Sechín Alto, boasts a platform of 12 sto-
ries that is dated between 1700 and 500 b.c.e. and was ex-
panded until about 200 b.c.e. Th e platform was completed
in a series of several phases that gradually increased in size
and complexity. It included a wall of stone and clay, granite
slabs, columns, and a system of aqueducts to conduct water.
Granite slabs that surround the structure are carved with
fi gures of mutilated warriors that have been linked themati-
cally (though not with historical evidence) to the danzantes
of Monte Albán. It is possible that Cerro Sechín’s symbolic
signifi cance was similar to that of other war monuments of
the ancient Americas.
Th e site Chavín de Huántar is one of the greatest of the
Chavín Period. Th e site’s location is strategic and advanta-
geous, as it sits near two rivers and two mountain passes,
near the coast and near the jungle. Th e Old Temple is built in
the form of the U-shape, which was characteristic of Chavín
architecture. It contained rooms and passageways (some
hidden), air ducts, and a sunken platform that would have
accommodated several hundred people. Th e temple’s Sunken
Circular Court has a wall of stone slabs with fi nely carved
jaguar and human fi gures. Th e jaguar, which sometimes as-
sumed human characteristics, is an important and pervasive
motif in early art of South America and Mesoamerica. Also
impressive are the more than 40 monolithic heads that pro-
trude from the upper walls of the temple. Th e temple is built
around a lancelike sculpture called the Lanzón, which is one
of the site’s earliest-dated objects. Th e carved fi gures and the
Lanzón were symbolic and related thematically to the rituals
that took place at the temple.
Th e Ica Valley has provided evidence of architectural
developments from the Paracas culture. At Animas Bajas ar-
chaeologists have found rectangular mound structures that
contained many rooms, ramps, and earthen foundations cov-
ered with adobe bricks. As with many buildings and sites in
the ancient Americas, there is evidence of remodeling and ex-
pansion. Other sites in the area include housing terrace units
made of adobe or stone brick.
Th e later Paracas site of Animas Altas shows a more
sophisticated architectural program, also including walled
fortifi cation. Major monuments found at the site are 13 large
mounds constructed of two levels with rooms, storage units,
patios and corridors. Th ese are built over an earth founda-
tion on which adobe bricks are stacked and bonded with
adobe mortar; occasionally, grassy materials fi ll the spaces
between the bricks. Some of the walls at Animas Altas have
been decorated with low-relief carving of mythological crea-
tures, incorporating both serpentine and catlike features
and references to birds and water. All of these characteris-
tics would have had religious or cosmological signifi cance
to the inhabitants of this area.NORTH AMERICA
Little is known about diff erent varieties of ancient architec-
ture in North America. In the region now called the eastern
Un it e d St at e s , mo s t of t he s t r uc t u re s a rc h a e olo g i s t s h ave id e n-
tifi ed were burial mounds. Th is tradition lasted for more than
two millennia in North America. In the era 5500–3000 b.c.e.
in the lower Mississippi area, the earliest mound structures
were in present-day Louisiana. Th e Watson Brake Mound
Group (3900–3300 b.c.e.) comprises 11 earthworks connect-
ed by a terrace and plaza. Th ey are constructed of earth and
have a conical shape.
Th e largest and most elaborate earthen mounds of the
second millennium b.c.e. are found at Poverty Point (1730–
1350 b.c.e.), which overlooks the Mississippi River fl ood-
plain in northeastern Louisiana. Th is structure was more