Chan Chan, an expansive archaeological site on the North Coast of Peru, was the economic hub of the Chimú Empire during the Late Intermediate Period (1050/1100 - 1450 CE). Ceramics were one of the most widely produced goods, with artisans from the domestic residences, known as the SIAR, following standardized techniques and styles to maximize efficiency (Moseley, 2001/2008). Standardized techniques are valuable for chronological ordering and can help define a linear evolution of ceramic production at the site. Joan Kanigan (1995) explores chronological markers from the SIAR, identifying four occupational phases that can be distinguished by ceramic rims (Figure 2). Her evidence illustrates Chan Chan as a city in constant development, with artisans utilizing pottery as a dynamic medium to express their fluctuating preferences in response to the developing social landscape.

 

My study compares two ceramic assemblages from the SIAR to evaluate how dynamic expressions shifted through time, identifying trends of decorative use that help us understand how Chan Chan’s potters responded to their everchanging social landscapes. My research question asks: How does decorative pottery in the domestic residences of Chan Chan change through time, and how does it reflect the shifting cultural setting?
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Download a PDF of the poster or the Rmarkdown file (and graphics utilized in the study) below.