The Lanzón Stela stands as a monumental testament to the religious and cultural innovations of the Chavín culture, which emerged as the first significant religious movement in the Andes mountains. This granite stela, erected circa 500 BC during the Early Horizon period of Andean art, is located in the Old Temple of Chavín de Huantar in the central highlands of Peru. The name “Lanzón” derives from the Spanish word for “lance,” referencing the sculpture’s shape, though its form more closely resembles a highland plow, hinting at its possible agrarian worship connections.
Chavin culture
The Chavín culture, flourishing during the Early Horizon period from 1200 BC to 400 BC, represents a significant chapter in the pre-Columbian history of Peru. Centered in the town of Chavín de Huántar, located near the confluence of the Huachecsa and Mosna rivers in the upper basin of the Marañón River, this culture laid foundational stones for the Andean civilizations that followed.
Origin and Development
The term “Chavín culture” is distinct from the “Chavinoid” artistic spectrum, which includes expressions predating Chavín itself. The culture’s development is traditionally viewed as a “cultural horizon” due to its widespread artistic and religious influences on contemporary cultures. This period saw an intensification of religious worship, the emergence of ceramics linked to ceremonial centers, advancements in agriculture, and the beginnings of metallurgy and textile production.
Julio César Tello Rojas, the archaeologist who discovered the Chavín culture, initially proposed its Amazonian origins based on the jungle iconography prevalent in its art, particularly ceramics. However, it’s now recognized that the Caral civilization predates Chavín, challenging Tello’s theory of Chavín as the “mother of Andean civilizations.”
Geographic Spread and Activities
The Chavín culture’s influence extended across the Andean region, from the north to the current Peruvian departments of Lambayeque and Cajamarca, and south to Ica and Ayacucho. This pan-Andean culture was characterized by advanced agriculture, livestock farming, and trade based on barter. They cultivated a variety of crops, including corn and potatoes, and developed livestock farming centered on South American camelids.
Artistic and Cultural Manifestations
Chavín art, recognized for its “mythical realism,” depicts complex interactions between humans and animals, reflecting the culture’s social interconnections and religious beliefs. The use of psychoactive plants in ritual, evidenced by the depiction of the San Pedro cactus, highlights the spiritual practices of the Chavín people.
The ceremonial center of Chavín de Huántar, a current World Cultural Heritage site, was an important hub for cultural and religious activities. Key artifacts from this site include the Tello Obelisk, the Cabezas Clavas, and the Lanzón, each embodying the intricate iconography and religious significance of the Chavín culture.
Architectural Achievements
Chavín de Huántar’s architecture, comprising internal galleries and external plazas and terraces, is considered an engineering achievement. The construction of the “Old Temple” and the “New Temple” reflects a sophisticated understanding of design and planning, with a focus on religious structures rather than residential or occupational buildings.
Language and Religion
The language of the Chavín culture remains unknown, with some anthropologists suggesting a possible relation to proto-Quechua. The culture’s religion, characterized by polytheism and a priestly caste, centered around deities with feline, caiman, and snake features, reflecting Amazonian influences. The use of hallucinogenic substances in religious rituals suggests a deep spiritual connection to the natural world.
Chavín culture Archaeological sites and Artifacts
Raimondi Stele
The Raimondi Stele stands as a monumental testament to the religious and artistic practices of the Chavín culture, which thrived in the central Andes of present-day Peru from 1500 BCE to 300 BCE. This period, known as the Early Horizon, was characterized by the widespread influence of Chavín art styles, including the use of anthropomorphic and zoomorphic motifs featuring feline, serpent, and crocodilian creatures. The stele itself, a seven-foot-high polished granite monolith, showcases these artistic choices in its depiction of the Staff God, a central figure in Chavín cosmology.
La Galgada (archaeological site)
La Galgada, an archaeological site in Peru, serves as a significant example of a ceremonial monument within the Kotosh Religious Tradition during the Pre-Ceramic, or Late Archaic period of Andean history. This period, characterized by increasing societal complexity and the construction of monumental ceremonial centers, marks a pivotal era in the development of Andean civilization.
Kuntur Wasi
Kuntur Wasi, translating to “Condor House” in Quechua, stands as a testament to the architectural and cultural achievements of ancient Andean societies. Located in the Northern Mountain Range of Peru, specifically at the headwaters of the Jequetepeque River near the city of Cajamarca and the small town of San Pablo, this site offers invaluable insights into the religious and social practices of its inhabitants, who are believed to have had connections with the Chavín culture.
Garagay
Garagay is an archaeological site of significant importance located in the district of San Martín de Porres, within the city of Lima, Peru. This site, dating back to approximately 1400 BC, represents a key ceremonial center from the Andean Formative era, showcasing the architectural and cultural developments of ancient societies in the region.
Pacopampa
Pacopampa, a term derived from Quechua meaning “paqu pampa,” is an archaeological site of monumental importance located in the northern highlands of Peru, specifically within the department of Cajamarca. This site, dating from 1200 to 500 BC, showcases the remains of a ceremonial center constructed from cut and polished stone, marking it as a significant location from the Formative period of pre-Columbian history.