Definition of Chavín Culture

On the Pacific coast of today's territory of Peru there was a civilization pre-Inca that developed over a thousand years, approximately between 1500 and 500 BC. C. This civilization is known by the term Chavín Culture, so called because its main The center was located in the current town of Chavín de Huántar, located between the Mosna and Huachecsa.

Main economic activities

Its inhabitants were mainly dedicated to the farming, livestock, fishing and Commerce. The inhabitants carried out exchanges and it is even believed that they exchanged products with other Amazonian peoples. The corn, cassava, achote, tomato and some tubers were their main crops.

They developed very advanced forms of irrigation and complex systems of channels and platforms. To cultivate the land they used a type of hand plow known as a chaquitaclla. Two animals were used in the livestock activity, llamas and alpacas.

Artistic manifestation

The Chavines knew the smelting techniques and worked metals such as gold, silver and copper. In their artisan creations they also used the

wood, stone, bones and precious stones. With these materials they made goldsmith ornaments and ceramic pieces (all kinds of animals are represented in the pieces that are preserved).

Using cotton and wool they made very elaborate fabrics and tapestries.

Among his sculptures, the obelisks and the monolithic sandeel stand out, a building of great height that was nailed on the ground and in which the different gods are represented. On architecture they built platforms, truncated pyramids, and circular shafts in stone. The main remains of this civilization are preserved in the Chavín de Huántar sanctuary.

Society and religion

Like most civilizations, in the Chavín Culture, society was made up of two social classes: the priestly caste and the people. The priests had knowledge about astronomy, which made it possible to predict some weather phenomena.

At the same time, they were hydraulic "engineers" and specialists in different arts and techniques. The people were the dominated class that was at the service of the priestly caste.

Through their sculptures, archaeologists have been able to learn about some of their religious beliefs.

The chavines were polytheists and worshiped the jaguar, the puma and the alligator. However, they worshiped a main deity, the god of Staves.

According to archaeological findings, in their rituals they used hallucinogenic substances (the San Pedro cactus and the seeds of the anadenanthera were the two plants used by the priests in some ceremonies).

Photo: Fotolia - A

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