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Chavín de Huántar (Peru)

By K. Kris Hirst, About.com

Building A, Chavin de Huantar, Peru

Chavin de Huantar, Peru

Nicole Medina
Definition: Chavín de Huántar is an archaeological site of the Chavín culture located on a steep slope of the Andes Mountains of Peru, occupied from about 900-200 BC. The site has several impressive stone temples and dozens of stone carvings.

Chavín de Huántar was first described by a Spanish chronicler in 1521. The site and others of the Chavin culture were investigated by Julio C. Tello between 1919 and 1941; more recent investigations include Luis Lumbreras and Richard Burger.

Sources

Lumbreras has developed a wonderful Chavin de Huantar website, including much information about Chavin culture and artifacts, and including several informative videos; all in Spanish.

Miller, George R. and Burger, Richard L. Our father the cayman, our dinner the llama: Animal utilization at Chavin de Huantar, Peru. American Antiquity 60(3), 421-458. 95.

Stahl, Peter W. 1999 Structural density of domesticated South American camelid skeletal elements and the archaeological investigation of prehistoric Andean Ch'arki. Journal of Archaeological Science 26:1347-1368.

This glossary entry is part of the Dictionary of Archaeology. Any mistakes are the responsibility of Kris Hirst.

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