On the southern coast of Peru, the famous site of Cahuachi, the greatest establishment of the ancient Nasca, is traditionally interpreted as either hosting an important population or an exclusive ceremonial centre and a pilgrimage destination. Recently, analysis of cultural material reveal the existence of residential sections in the interior of the temples. Archaeological remains, in particular those excavated on periphery of the great monuments show proofs of permanent domestic life. The architectural organization of the ceremonial center tends toward enclosed and isolated spaces, far from the idea of an urban form. These elements pull us to change our mind about the function of this site. n the southern coast of Peru, the famous site of Cahuachi, the greatest establishment of the ancient Nasca, is traditionally interpreted as either hosting an important population or an exclusive cere...

Since 2009, within the framework of the Ánimas Altas Archaeological Program in Ica, Peru — under the direction of the au-thors — systematic excavations have been carried out in the Ánimas Altas/Ánimas Bajas archaeological complex, the center ofthe Paracas culture in the lower Ica valley. To date, the project has documented public-ceremonial architecture as well as domesticand production areas. Additionally, excavations have revealed evidence of pyramidal complexes contiguous to plazas, one smallpyramid housing an elite tomb decorated with a mural frieze, and remnants of dwellings and storage areas.In this article, we attempt to understand the function that Ánimas had during its prehispanic occupation, using data from recent excavations at the site. Our analysis draws on a wide range of material culture categories to facilitate reflections on the concepts of ‘city’ and ...

No presenta resumen

En este artículo, se presentan y se discuten los resultados de las recientes investigaciones llevadas a cabo en el marco del Programa Arqueológico Ánimas Altas, Ica, Perú. Se enfatizan las excavaciones realizadas en un edificio decorado con frisos. El análisis de la cultura material de este edificio —en particular, de los íconos plasmados en los frisos— ofrece algunas interpretaciones no solamente respecto a la simbología y cosmovisión paracas; también, arroja luces sobre aspectos relacionados con dinámicas identitarias y territoriales de las formaciones sociales paracas en el valle bajo de Ica. Los íconos plasmados en los frisos apoyan la idea según la cual las interacciones de los paracas no se limitaron a la sierra adyacente. Más aún, existen nexos con la costa norte y central desde épocas remotas que quedan por investigar. Las variacionesestilísticas y tecnológic...

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