00:00 | Ayacucho (Ayacucho region), May. 16.
A set of ceramic pieces —unearthed at
Wari archaeological complex in Ayacucho— reveals valuable information about the origin of Wari civilization —the first imperial State of Peru that served as the basis for the Inca Empire development.
The archaeological site —considered the capital of this complex and well-organized pre-Hispanic civilization (600 AD-1,200 AD)— is located 25 km northeast of Andean Ayacucho City.
According to Jose Ochatoma, archaeologist at San Cristobal de Huamanga University and lead researcher at
Wari complex, the images on the 45 restored ceramics reveal the origin of Wari is linked to Nazca and Huarpa cultures.
The figures —representations of coastal animals and marine products (seaweed, fish, octopus), similar to those found in the iconography of Nazca culture— indicate that such civilization influenced the origin of Wari. The ceramics belong to diverse stages of Wari's cultural development.
"Research shows that
Wari is not the result of simultaneous influences of Nazca and Tiahuanaco cultures, as previously thought. Nazca's decisive influence came first and Tiahuanaco's followed, when Wari experienced its greatest development," he noted.
Ochatoma explained the restoration of these recently uncovered artifacts —part of the conservation and enhancement process of Wari's cultural heritage— demands plenty of time and dedication since there are pieces of different sizes.
"The studies conducted reveal that ceramics used to be destroyed as part of Wari rituals. In some cases, archaeologists found the stones used to break the pots and other ceramic pieces. Therefore, it is very difficult to restore the ceramics to their original state," he pointed out.
As for Huarpa —the preceding culture of Wari— the archaeologist affirmed very little is known about this civilization.
"New research has shown that there is evidence of a very dense Huarpa occupation before the Wari urban occupation," he expressed.
(END) LZD/RMB
Published: 5/16/2019