Ancón is an archaeological site located on the coast of Peru, about 40 km north of Lima. Based on architecture and archaeological evidence, the site is thought to been a colony of the Wari Empire during the Middle Horizon (ca 550-1000 AD).
The site includes two zones: a settlement dated between 2250 BC-200 BC, and a settlement and necropolis, dated between 200 BC-1550 AD. A distinct break at 200 BC predates the Wari occupation, which begins to be noted about 550 AD.
Stable isotope analysis of skeletal material (and a collection of Wari-type grave goods) from the necropolis provided a suggestion that perhaps a Wari person—a young woman in her teens—lived at Ancon for several years before dying.
Sources
This glossary entry is part of the Guide to the Wari Empire and the Dictionary of Archaeology.
Slovak, Nicole M., Adina Paytan, and Bettina A. Wiegand 2009 Reconstructing Middle Horizon mobility patterns on the coast of Peru through strontium isotope analysis. Journal of Archaeological Science 36(1):157-165.
