New Paracas Architecture Pattern In Lucanas, Southern Highlands Peru

Abstract

During our archaeological surveys in the upper reaches of the Palpa valleys, at the western slope of the Andes, we identified and registered a large number of settlements of the Paracas culture, most of them dating to the Middle Paracas
(550-350 BC) and Late Paracas (350-200 BC) period. Of special interest are several large sites with stone buildings with circular ground plans, similar to the shape of a flower. The center of these architectural complexes consists of a
circular or crescent shaped sunken patio, around which are arranged D-shaped enclosures with small terraces in front of the straight wall.
Through our large scale excavations in Cutamalla, one of the largest and best preserved settlements in the area, we were able to document in detail this new type of architecture and to define its formal and constructive features, as well as its cultural affiliation and the activities carried out within the structures.
All the data recovered so far indicate that these circular structures have to be considered as a new architectural type of the Late Paracas period. The distribution of this new architectural pattern is limited to a part of the highlands of Lucanas, Ayacucho, and, as far as we know, seems to be unique in the southern highlands of Peru.