Archaeological excavations at the Pampa La Cruz site have revealed Moche-style wall paintings in a ceremonial structure. This unique find constitutes the first case of this type of mural art in a non-monumental site of the Moche society reported in academic media. The analysis of this evidence suggests that it was a narrative inserted in an expansive political and religious program of Moche society around A.D. 600-700. Additionally, it suggests that this narrative art program was closely connected to an increase in ritual violence activities, particularly human sacrifice. The latter, however, seems to differ from cases of human sacrifice in monumental sites such as Plaza 3A in Huaca de la Luna. Finally, the presence of this mural and the Moche political/religious presence in Pampa La Cruz, suggests that this site, beyond having been a simple fishing village, may have played an important ...

This paper introduces the first results of the archaeological research carried out at the Sector José Olaya – Sitio Iglesia Colonial de Huanchaco. The excavations yielded occupations associated with the Late Initial Period and the Early Horizon. The paper describes the occupations, burials, shellfish, and ceramic identified. The latter is also studied through petrographic analysis done on selected samples. Finally, a stratigraphic study plus the aid of 11 AMS dates, allowed to build a local chronology divided into three subphases: José Olaya 1 (1000-800 B.C.), José Olaya 2 (800-600 B.C.) y José Olaya 3 (600-400 B.C.).

En este artículo se presentan los primeros resultados de las investigaciones realizadas en el Sector José Olaya – Sitio Iglesia Colonial de Huanchaco, donde se ha registrado una ocupación del periodo Inicial Tardío y el Horizonte Temprano. En este artículo presentamos los datos de los contextos arqueológicos excavados, así como un análisis preliminar de la cerámica asociada, estudio de los restos malacológicos y algunos datos del análisis petrográfico. Al mismo tiempo, un análisis de la estratigrafía del sitio y 11 fechados AMS, ayudan a separar estas ocupaciones en tres subfases: José Olaya 1 (1000-800 a.C.), José Olaya 2 (800-600 a.C.) y José Olaya 3 (600-400 a.C.).