El Periodo Formativo en el valle de Cajamarca

Abstract

The Formative Period in the Cajamarca Valley

The University of Tokyo Archaeological Expedition has realized several excavations at Huacaloma (1979-1988), Layzón (1982), Cerro Blanco (1985), Loma Redonda (19.89), Kolguitin (1982 and 1989), Kuntur Wasi (1988-) and La Bomba (1993) in the department of Cajamarca. The main objective of these investigations has been to clarify the Formative Period in the northern highlands of Peru, thus divided into four phases: Early Huacaloma (1500-1000 B.C.), Late Huacaloma (1000-550 B.C.), EL (550-250 B.C.) and Layzón (250-50 B.C.) These intensive studies also made it possible to clarify the religious activities which were done at the temples like Huacaloma and Layzón. In the following, not only the chronology of the Formative Period in the Cajamarca Valley but also the process of the transformation of the ceremonial centers on the basis of the data recovered from the investigations. Simultaneously various aspects will be discussed: the appearance of the public or ceremonial architecture, the enlargement of the temple, its renovation and abandonment and the causes of the transformation of the ceremonial centers.