Cultural periods of Peru
This is a chart of Cultural periods of Peru used by some archaeologists studying the area. Most of the cultures of the Late Horizon and some of the cultures of the Late Intermediate joined the Inca empire by 1493, but the period ends in 1534 because that marks the fall of the Inca empire after the Spanish conquest. Most of the cut-off years mark either an end of a severe drought or the beginning of one. These marked a shift of the most productive farming to or from the mountains, and tended to mark the end of one culture and the rise of another.
It should be noted that the more recent findings concenring the Caral Supe Civilization are not included on this list, as it was compliled before the site at Caral was investigated in detail.
| Period | Dates | Cultures |
|---|---|---|
| Ceramic | ||
| Late Horizon | 1476 CE - 1534 CE | Cajamarca, Chancay, Chachapoyas, Chincha, Chiribaya, Chucuito, Huaman Huilca, Inca, Ilo, Qotu Qotu, Pacacocha, Palli Marca, Piura, Sican, Tajaraca |
| Late Intermediate | 1000 CE - 1476 CE | Huari, Chimú, Chincha, Cajamarca, Gorbanzai, Piura |
| Middle Horizon | 600 CE - 1000 CE | Moche, Nazca, Huari, Tiwanaku, Piura, Gorbanzai |
| Early Intermediate <td> 200 CE - 600 CE | Moche, Nazca, Tiwanaku, Pichiche, Piura, Gorbanzai | |
| Early Horizon | 900 BCE - 200 CE | Chavín, Cupisnique, Late Chiripa, Paracas, Pichiche, Sechura |
| Initial Period | 1800/1500 BCE - 900 BCE | Early Chiripa, Kotosh, Toríl (The Cumbe Mayo aqueduct was built c. 1000 BCE.) |
| Preceramic | ||
| Period VI | 2500 BCE - 1500/1800 BCE | Casavilca, Culebras, Viscachani, Huaca Prieta |
| Period V | 4200 BCE - 2500 BCE | Honda, Lauricocha III, Viscachani, |
| Period IV | 6000 BCE - 4200 BCE | Ambo, Canario, Siches, Lauricocha II, Luz, Toquepala II |
| Period III | 8000 BCE - 6000 BCE | Arenal, Chivateros II, Lauricocha I, Playa Chira, Puyenca, Toquepala I |
| Period II | 9500 BCE - 8000 BCE | Chivateros I, Lauricocha I |
| Period I | ? BCE - 9500 BCE | Oquendo, Red Zone (central coast) |
References
Edward P. Lanning, 1967 Peru Before the Incas. Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs, N.J., ISBN 0-13-661595-3
Categories
Archaeology timelines | Peruvian culture | History of Peru | Pre-Columbian cultures