Pachacamac

From Perupedia

Coordinates: 12°15′29″S 76°54′00″W / 12.25806°S 76.9°W / -12.25806; -76.9

Pachacamac Ychsma
Coordinates:12°26′29″S 76°54′00″W / 12.44139°S 76.9°W / -12.44139; -76.9
Culture	Lima Wari Ichma Inca
Period	Early Intermediate Middle Horizon Late Intermediate Late Horizon
Country Region	Peru Lima
Official website
http://pachacamac.perucultural.org.pe/index.htm

The temple of Pachacamac is an archaeological site 40 km southeast of Lima, Peru in the Valley of the Lurín River. It’s occupation spanned over 1000 years (AD 200 - 1534) and the site was used by several successive Peruvian cultures; specifically the Lima, Wari, Ichma, and Inca.

Pachacamac’s influence as both a religious and administrative center persisted right up until it’s downfall in the early 1500s, as chronicled by the Spanish upon their arrival to the site. Spanish eyewitness accounts in 1534 record that the city thronged with pilgrims, whose dress showed them to have come from throughout the Inca Empire. Priests, nobles and pilgrims were admitted and given accommodation in the cast complex of courts and rooms surrounding the temple. ^[1]

Religious Influence

Pachacamac’s first and foremost purpose was as a religious site. Early on in the site’s history, a platform mound and windowless temple were constructed to house a wooden idol of the creator-god Pacha Kamaq. Only priests were allowed to ascend the platform and enter the temple that housed the idol, which was kept behind a veil. The figure was carved with human faces on both sides to represent duality. This caused the site to quickly become a destination for pilgrims and followers of the Pacha Kamaq cult throughout the Andes. ^[2]

Pacha Kamaq (the 'Earth-Maker') was considered the creator god by the peoples who lived in Peru before the Inca conquest. He was taken into the Inca pantheon, but somewhat reluctantly, being seen mainly as an ineffective rival of Viracocha. His myths are sparse and confused:

• Some accounts identify him as Manco Capac's cowardly brother Ayca
• Others say that he, Manco Capac, and Viracocha were the sole three sons of Inti the sun god.
• Another story says that he made the first man and the first woman, but forgot to give them food. When the man died and the woman prayed over Pacha Kamaq's head to his father Inti to make her the mother of all the peoples of earth, Pacha Kamaq was furious. One by one, as the woman’s children were born, Pacha Kamaq tried to kill them — only to be beaten and to be thrown into the sea by her hero-son Wichama, after which he gave up the struggle and contented himself by becoming the supreme god of fish.

In addition, Pachacamac housed an oracle who was believed to possess the power to directly communicate with Pacha Kamaq himself. The oracle was located in the temple room with the veiled idol, and only priests were allowed to speak to the oracle. Intricately subdivided temples were meant to restrict performance and observance of religious ritual to a select few. North and West of the oracle temple were ramped platforms and an elaborate complex of room suites, passages, and small patios around larger courtyards. These were quarters, halls and sacred spaces in which pilgrims could worship in small groups.^[3]

Questions put to the oracle usually concerned the weather, harvest, health matters, and warfare. A priest relayed the god’s answers to the supplicant, followed by hefty demands for tribute and donations. So powerful was the oracle that failure to comply with his mandates was believed to bring earthquakes and other natural disasters. ^[4]

Priests of distant communities solicited Pachacamac priests for permission to establish branch shrines in their home towns to Pacha Camac. If the town was deemed to have the ability to support cult activity, a priest from Pachacamac was assigned to the new shrine and the community supplied labor and produce from assigned lands to support him and the shrine. Part of the produce was kept for the shrine and the rest was sent back to Pachacamac. These branches were thought of as wives, children, or brothers and sisters of the main cult city.^[5]

Occupation

Ramped temple, Ichma construction

Below are details regarding the site’s occupation, categorized by different Cultural Periods of Peru:

Early Intermediate (AD 200 – 600)

During its early occupation by the blossoming Lima culture, construction of a platform mound and windowless temple housing a wooden idol of Pacha Kamaq. Both the materials and architectural techniques used during construction at this time were very complex. In addition, the site began to amass a lot of local influence during this time.^[6]

Middle Horizon (AD 600 – 1000)

Temple of the Sun, Inca construction

Later, the Wari sponsored construction of the city, probably using it as an administrative center, beginning in AD 650. A number of Wari influenced designs appear on the construction in this period and on the ceramics and textiles found in the cemeteries of this period as well. And it was during this time that Pachacamac first began to extend its influence to other areas in the Central Andes. After the collapse of the Wari Empire, Pachacamac continued to grow as a religious state.^[7]

Late Intermediate (AD 1000 – 1476)

Between AD 1200 and 1450, the Ichma culture developed, and their regional character penetrated the lower reaches of the Rimac and Lurin rivers. There was a large building boom during this time, as evident by the splendor of the ceremonial center and religious court. This established the site as the premier religious center along the coast and to the stressed out inland communities as well.^[8]At this point, the Painted Temple was strengthened, and 15 additional ramped temples and pyramids were built around two main streets that ran North-South and East-West.^[9]

Late Horizon (AD 1476 – 1534)

Women's Temple, Inca construction

Between their arrival in AD 1450 and the Spanish arrival in AD 1532, the Inca occupied the site, establishing new administrative centers, and updating existing buildings to accommodate their needs. During this time the Inca promoted their own religion – the Inti cult (which included the idea that Sapa Inca directly descended from the Sun) but didn’t challenge the obvious importance and influence of Pachacamac oracle. They added to the importance of the ancient pilgrimage city by building a temple to Inti to add to the city’s importance within the Inca empire. ^[10] In addition, they built the Temple of the Sun, the Acllahuasi, Taruichumbi Palace, the Plaza of the Pilgrims, and many others.^[11]

Less than a hundred years after the Inca took over Pachacamac, the ceremonial center met its downfall. The Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro arrived in Peru in 1532 and took the Inca ruler Atahualpa prisoner. Pizarro soon heard about the riches at Pachacamac and in 1533 sent an expedition led by his brother, Hernando, to sack the site and the surrounding area. The Spanish conquerors made off with large amounts of silver and gold and destroyed the idol that served as oracle for the pilgrimage center. Pachacamac never recovered its former importance and soon faded away.^[12] This idol was destroyed by Hernando Pizzaro, causing the oracle to ‘fall silent.’ Several similar figures, however, presumed from Pachacamac, are in museums.^[13]

Important Excavations

1895-1896 With the arrival of Dr. Max Uhle, between 1895-1896, work began on scientific research. His excavations set the stage for 30 years of excavation and analysis in which he used the relative dating method of seriation to provide a chronology of ancient Andean ceramic styles that basically remains valid today.The result of his field work was published by the University of Pennsylvania in the book Pachacamac (1903).^[14][15]

1938-1939 As a result of the XXVII International Congress of Americanists, Dr. Alberto Giesecke was entrusted to perform the cleaning and restoration of the Temple of Pachacamac, during which time he discovered the idol and the Gate of the pre-Inca Temple.^[16]

1940-1945 As a result of the Supreme Resolution, Dr. Julio C. Tello was authorized to make various excavations. His work focused on the excavation, restoration and reconstruction of Acllahuasi or mamacunas at Pachacamac. His most important discovery was the stone walls of classic Cusco in the padding technique.^[17]

1941-1942 William D. And John M. Strong Corbett conducted an excavation in a trench on a huge Inca garbage dump, which was located on the Eastern Front of the Temple of the Sun.^[18]

1958-1962 Under the direction of Dr. Arturo Jimenez Borja, Pyramid Ramp No. 1 was cleaned, excavated and restored.^[19]

1963-1964 Under the direction of Dr. Arturo Jimenez B., cleaning was carried out in front of the Sun Temple. This was achieved by placing the main entrance, which consists of a zig-zag ladder. He continued his work with the cleaning of the "Joint Adobitos", located opposite the site museum, which opened in 1965.^[20]

1981-1982 Ponciano Paredes supervised the cleaning, excavation and validation of the Pyramid Ramp No. 2.^[21]

1986-1990 With funding from the Augusto N. Wiese Foundation, excavation was performed on the Old Temple of Pachacamac. Under the direction of Architect Ponciano Paredes, field work determined the sequence of construction and reuse of this pyramid.^[22]

1990-1991 Under the financing of CEIA, three seasons of excavations took place around the Fourth Wall and the home of the Sierra del Sector "Las Palmas".^[23]

1997-2000 Headed by Mr. Jesus Ramos, and with funding from the National Institute of Culture, conservation and restoration work on pyramid Ramp No. 1 took place.^[24]

1999-2003 The Ychsma Project, directed by Dr Peter Eeckhout of the Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), carried out archaeological field research at Pachacamac. The general object of the research was to shed light on local and regional questions concerning the Late Intermediate Period and subsequent Late Horizon. The primary goal of the project is, of course, scientific research, but its activities also include the training of students and young archaeologists, as well as the conservation and restoration of the site of Pachacamac. The training is through field courses for pre- and post- graduate students from the ULB, Universidad Villareal, and others. The conservation work includes restoration of the artifacts from excavations for exhibition purposes and the making of a digital animated 3D model of the whole site.^[25]

2001-2002 With funding from the National Institute of Culture, the Museum (lead by then-director and archaeologist Giancarlo Marcone) excavated a site in the "Complex of Adobitos" in order to extend the visitation area. That sector turned out to be the oldest occupation of the ceremonial center. Also during this time, maintenance work was performed at the Third Wall, sponsored by Mr. Villasana.^[26]

2003-2005 The Pachacamac Archaeological Project was a long-term, international and interdisciplinary investigation that aimed to elucidate the social foundations of Pachacamac. After some 15 years of careful planning, the project began its fieldwork during the summer of 2003. It is co-directed by Izumi Shimada (Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL), Rafael Segura (Catholic University of Peru, Lima) and María Rostworowski (Institute of Peruvian Studies, Lima) and supported by grants from the National Science Foundation and the National Geographic Society. The long-term aims of the project are

• Defining the identity, composition, organization, roles and dynamics of the pre-Inca residents
• Gaining an understanding of how this religious center maintained itself, exerted its influence, and successfully negotiated political and environmental stresses for so long
• Determining whether it really was merely a pilgrim and burial center as has been often assumed or had a more urban, multi-functional character.^[27]

Present Day Status

Femur with human skin still attached, recently exposed to the elements, decaying

Even today, Native Andeans travel to the site to make offerings to Pacha Kamaq (the creator) and Pacha Mama (earth mother). No other Andean site played such a significant role for such a long time.^[28]

Today the archaeological site faces the threat of urban development. The population of Lima has exploded, and today nearly a third of Peru's total population lives in or near the city, many in squatter settlements. Pachacamac has certainly felt the impact. Peruvian authorities struggle to keep the site clear of would-be settlers and encroaching neighbors, who regularly use it as a sand pit for construction purposes and a garbage dump. The situation, says archaeologist Peter Eeckhout of the Free University of Brussels, is "very sad indeed." Efforts to place Pachacamac on the UNESCO World Heritage List have been stalled by disputes over the site's official limits. Eeckhout would like to see the matter resolved, "ensuring the long-term preservation" of Pachacamac and allowing future generations a chance to better understand the rich heritage of the ancient peoples who thrived there.^[29]

In Popular Culture

Pachacamac was the name of the ship that originally carried the abducted Professor Calculus in The Seven Crystal Balls album of The Adventures of Tintin. The next album, Prisoners of the Sun, dealt with Tintin discovering an ancient Inca tribe still active in South America.

A character that appears in the video game Sonic Adventure is named Pachacamac after the ancient ruin.

Pachacamac also was the name chosen by a french music group performing andine music on original instruments. Albums: Pachacamac — Musique des Incas (1971), Titicaca (1973), Contrastes (1975).

Pachacamac was also the name of the main villain in Juken Sentai Gekiranger vs. Boukenger crossover direct-to-video movie. He was said to initially fight Brusa Ii and won just barely. His descendant, Pachacamac the 12th attacked Earth and the two Sentai teams had to team-up and defeat him in the movie.

References

• Mcleish, K. (1996) Myths and Legends of the World, The Complete Companion to all Traditions, Blitz, United Kingdom.

External links

• Pachacamac Satellite view @ Google Maps
• Pachacamac Museum
• Stock Photos of Pachacamac
• Visit Pachacamac (flash)
• Pachacamac in Inca times(flash)
• Pachacamac Archaeological Project

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