Wari culture Huari earthenware pot with painted design, 650-800 CE (Middle Horizon) Wari Tunic, Peru, 750-950 CE. This tunic is made of 120 separate small pieces of cloth, each individually tie-dyed. Ceramics of the period depict high-status men wearing this style of tunic. Monoliths Wari Wari funeral bundle Pikillaqta administrative center, built by the Wari civilization in Cusco The Wari (Spanish: Huari) were a Middle Horizon civilization that flourished in the south-central Andes and coastal area of modern-day Peru, from about AD 500 to 1000.[1] (The Wari culture is not to be confused with the modern ethnic group and language known as Wari', with which it has no known link.) Wari, as the former capital city was called, is located 11 km (6.8 mi) north-east of the modern city of Ayacucho, Peru. Little is known about the details of the Wari administrative structure, as they did not appear to use a form of written record. See also[edit] References[edit] Additional reading[edit] Collier, Simon et al.
Moche (culture) The Moche civilization (alternatively, the Mochica culture, Early Chimu, Pre-Chimu, Proto-Chimu, etc.) flourished in northern Peru with its capital near present-day Moche and Trujillo,[1] from about 100 AD to 800 AD, during the Regional Development Epoch. While this issue is the subject of some debate, many scholars contend that the Moche were not politically organized as a monolithic empire or state. Rather, they were likely a group of autonomous polities that shared a common elite culture, as seen in the rich iconography and monumental architecture that survive today. Their adobe huacas have been mostly destroyed by looters and natural forces over the last 1300 years. Material culture[edit] Ceramics[edit] Traditional north coast Peruvian ceramic art uses a limited palette, relying primarily on red and white; fineline painting, fully modeled clay, veristic figures, and stirrup spouts. The realistic detail in Moche ceramics may have helped them serve as didactic models. Textiles[edit]
Sacsayhuamán Sideways view of the walls of Saksaywaman showing the details of the stonework and the angle of the walls. The site, at an altitude of 3,701 m, was added as part of the city of Cusco to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1983. Description[edit] Located on a steep hill that overlooks the city, it contains an impressive view of the valley to the southeast. Because of its location high above Cusco and its immense terrace walls, this area of Saksaywaman is frequently referred to as a fortress.[5] The importance of its military functions was highlighted in 1536 when Manco Inca lay siege to Cusco.[6] Much of the fighting occurred in and around Saksaywaman as it was critical for maintaining control over the city. The large plaza area, capable of holding thousands of people, is well designed for ceremonial activities and several of the large structures at the site may also have been used during rituals. On 13 March 2008, archaeologists discovered additional ruins at the periphery of Saksaywaman.
"Lost" Amazon Complex Found; Shapes Seen by Satellite Hundreds of circles, squares, and other geometric shapes once hidden by forest hint at a previously unknown ancient society that flourished in the Amazon, a new study says. Satellite images of the upper Amazon Basin taken since 1999 have revealed more than 200 geometric earthworks spanning a distance greater than 155 miles (250 kilometers). (Related: "Huge Pre-Stonehenge Complex Found via 'Crop Circles.'" ) Now researchers estimate that nearly ten times as many such structures—of unknown purpose—may exist undetected under the Amazon's forest cover. At least one of the sites has been dated to around A.D. 1283, although others may date as far back as A.D. 200 to 300, said study co-author Denise Schaan, an anthropologist at the Federal University of Pará in Belém, Brazil . Since these vanished societies had gone unrecorded, previous research had suggested that soils in the upper Amazon were too poor to support the extensive agriculture needed for such large, permanent settlements.