Andean Civilizations

The civilizations of Andeans were early communities or societies of different people and cultures developed in the river valleys of the coastal deserts of Peru. The civilization's location stretched from southern Colombia to Chile and northwest Argentina. According to the beliefs of the archaeologists, Andean civilizations have firstly emerged on the narrow size of the coasts of the Pacific Ocean. Some famous civilizations of Andean are Huari, Chavin, Nazca, Moche and Tiwanaku civilizations. These pre-Columbian civilizations emerged around the Andeans in and near modern-day Peru. In the following article, we would learn about Chavin, Nazca, Moche, Huari and Tiwanaku civilizations in detail.

Chavin Civilization

Chavin Civilization was located in the coastal and highlands of Peru. According to an estimation by historians and archaeologists, the Chavin Civilizations was established between 900 BCE – 200 BCE. (the timeline of this civilization is a matter of dispute among historians) Chavin de Huántar which is an archaeological and cultural site in the Andean became the centre of a religious movement during this time. The location of the Chavin Civilizations is considered important as it helped to make it a special place. 

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The civilization represents an important expression of arts, decorative and construction techniques of its time. The culture and ceremonial nature of the Chavin civilizations are evident in their architectural, technological and symbolic creation. The shrines constructed there emerged as an important pilgrimage centre that drew people and their offerings from far and wide. The architecture work of the Chavin Civilization was quite developed. They constructed complex designs of temples, hidden passageways, galleries, staircases, ventilation, drainage canals (technology).

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Nazca Civilization

According to archaeologists, the timeline of this civilization is 100BCE to 800 BCE. The Nazca or Nasca civilizations used to live near the arid south coast of Peru. The main occupation of the people of the Nazca civilization was agriculture. Their diet was variable and included maize, squash, sweet potatoes, beans, manioc, achira, fish and peanuts etc.

Underground aqueducts were developed by the people of Nazca which are known as puquios in order to sustain cities and agriculture in this arid climate. Most of the puquios are still operating at present time. They also made different ceramics and textiles that reflect their sacrificial and agricultural traditions.

The Nazca civilization is famous for its Nazca Lines. The Nazca Lines are geometric shapes or lines, and animal figures which are carved into the desert floor. These lines run for miles, and large drawings of animal figures (some as large as a football field). Over an extended period of time, people in a good number could have constructed the lines. The Nazca declined due to environmental changes. 

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Moche Civilization

The Moche civilization lasted from approximately 100 to 800 CE and was located in modern-day Peru, near Moche and Trujillo. According to the suggestions of scholars, Moche civilization functioned as individual cities or states that share almost the same cultural elite classes. There was not an empire or a single political system.

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It is identified with the help of iconography and the discovery that in ritual and cultural ceremony human skeletons were used which indicates that in religious practices of Moche people, human sacrifice played a significant part. People of elite classes also used to perform these rites.

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The people of the Moche civilization were largely dependent on agriculture. Hence they focused on the construction of a network of irrigation canals due to the arid climate.  The region is cropped by these ornate canals which divert the water from the river. The culture of Moche is popular for its expansive architecture of ceremony as it painted woven textiles and ceramics.

Huari Civilization

The Huari (Wari) civilization existed in the highland and coastal region of Peru between and highland areas of ancient Peru 450-1000 CE. The capital of Wari Civilization was located in Huari. The people of this civilization managed to construct an empire administered by provincial capitals connected by a large road network by successfully exploiting the diverse landscapes. 

Typical features of Andean architecture can be seen in Huari such as densely packed rectangle structure with enclosed walls that can be further divided into a maze of compartments. The walls of the city are massive and constructed using largely unworked stones set with a mud mortar. There two or three stories of houses or administrative buildings were built and their courtyards were lined up with benches of stone set in the walls, and drains were stone-lined. The walls and floors of houses were commonly covered with plaster and painted white.

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The civilization was economically stable and prosperous which helped Huari civilization to implement a combined strategy of benefits of economy, power of military and artistic imagery to forge an empire across ancient Peru. They survived because of their superior management of the land through the period of the drought of almost 30 years.

Tiwanaku Civilization

One of the most significant Andean civilizations is the Tiwanaku civilizations. It lasted from around 600 to 1000 AD and had influence over present-day Peru and Chile. Tiwanaku was the monumental city of this civilization and also the capital of the Tiwanaku civilizations. It was located at the centre of the polity's core area in the southern Lake Titicaca Basin. The region has clear evidence of large scale production of agriculture on raised fields that probably supported the urban population of the capital. 

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Tiwanaku developed into the most important pilgrimage place of the Andeans. There was a multicultural network of powerful lineages because of that people came together to construct large monuments. 

At the archaeological site of the administrative buildings and storehouses are not found but there were large residential areas which have surrounded the sacred centre, these now lie under fields used for agriculture. Some structures were made using dried-mud bricks (adobe) and constructed on cobblestone foundations. 

Do you know?

• The Andeans Mountains are popular for their biodiversity and most Andean peaks are volcanic.

• Chavin is considered the first (earliest) civilization of Andean.

Conclusion

Hence we get to know about some popular early civilizations which flourished in ancient times and contributed to archaeology and agriculture. The civilizations survived amid situations. The evidence of their prosperity and technology can be observed in their archaeological sites.