HIST 025 Lecture Notes - Lecture 12: Caral, Vertical Integration, Sechin Alto
8 Oct 2020
School
Department
Course
Professor
Document Summary
Very recent discoveries have meant a reassessment of the beginning of civilization in the andes. Although arid, the region had access to resources from the valley, river and. Complex irrigation systems allowed agriculture squash, beans, pumpkins, cotton, sweet potatoes, chili peppers, and gourds. From the river came fish and crayfish. Wetlands provided reeds and rushes to make women bags and mats. Products of mountains, jungle and coast accessed through trade. From the mountains and jungle lumber, herbs, seeds, pigments, medicinal plants and snails. From the coast dried anchovies, sardines, clams and mussels. Coastal fishermen made nets from the valley cotton. At least 20 different sites, not all excavated. 150 acre of pyramids, plazas, and residential structures. Largest pyramid complex covers an area the size of four football fields. Interiors sunken amphitheater which could accommodate hundreds of people for events. Two social classes evidenced by house size and burial goods. Human sacrifice (usually elite children) with pyramid construction.
