Los Morteros: an aproximation to the formation process of a preceramic coastal mounth

Abstract

Los Morteros is a mound-shape preceramic (5700-5000 cal AP) archaeological site of large dimensions (200 m x 200 m x 12 m) covered with eolian sand. This site is located on the edge of a paleoshoreline, over an alluvial plain called Pampa de las Salinas, lower Chao Valley of the northern coast of Peru. Los Morteros was discovered in 1976, by an archaeological research team led by Mercedes Cárdenas. This research identified this site as a natural feature (dune) that was used by local preceramic populations as a funerary area. New archaeological research at this site since 2012 has discovered the artificial nature of this site and has recorded several phases of occupation which include the construction of monumental architecture. The geoarchaeological approach of this research has allow us to reconstruct the formation process of this site, where its location, environment, and chronology have played a critical role. The continuous and dynamic occupation of Los Morteros made this site a key place to understand the processes involved in the development of monumental architecture in the Andes.