The Architecture of the Sipán Funeral Platform

Abstract

The buildings recorded for the Early Intermediate period reflect the existence of human groups with a highly developed social and political organization. An example of this is the Moche settlements on the northern coast of Peru, whose evidence of material culture has been identified in the valleys of Piura (Loma Negra), Chancay-Lambayeque (Huaca Rajada-Sipán and Pampa Grande), Jequetepeque (Pacatnamú, Dos Cabezas, La Mina, San José de Moro), Chicama (Huaca El Brujo, Mocollope), Moche (Huaca del Sol and La Luna and Galindo) and Nepeña (Pañamarca). In these valleys, archaeological complexes have been identified with monumental structures located at strategic points. This demonstrates the political, administrative and religious importance that these buildings had as meeting, collection or redistribution points of products. These complexes also concentrated a large population in their surroundings. The execution of architectural infrastructure works, their construction, maintenance and remodeling required a large workforce. An example of this type of “city” can be found in the Moche valley, at the archaeological site Huacas del Sol y La Luna. The research work carried out here provides data on the urban organization of a city characterized by the presence of residential complexes and production areas and indicates the presence of permanently resident human groups that ensured the full functioning of the activities that involved a city. at the service of the elite (Uceda 2010).