Sican culture

Lambayeque or also called Sicán culture, was a thriving culture in the La Leche Valley on the north coast of Peru in the period from about 700 to 1375 between the end of the Moche culture and the height of the Chimu Empire. It is historically associated with the Huari expansion, from which it could be a local development. She is a pre-Inca civilization.

Formation

Batan Grande near the present city of Chiclayo has been between 900 and 1100 for political and religious center of the Lambayeque culture. She lived in an area that is now Peru between the ruling Peoples of Ecuador in the north and the large areas of the Chimu and Chancay in the south. At this time the people of the Lambayeque flourished as a maritime community and traveling merchants.

The etymology of the word " Lambayeque " comes from the Muchik or Yungas language, both spoken on the coasts of northern Peru and became extinct during colonization. After Cabello de Balboa's Chronicle ( 1586), was " Lambayeque " from the name " NampaIlec ", ie the mythical figure Naymlap derived.

Architecture and culture

The Japanese archaeologist Izumi Shimada from Harvard had in 1979 after excavations concentrated around the site of Batan Grande, that the Lambayeque culture manufactured the finest goldsmith's art of ancient Peru.

The residents worked the metal with a lot of skill. The graves of Batan Grande rulers included cups of gold and silver ( Keros ), emeralds, pearls and so-called " tomb - loads", decorated with semi-precious stones, shells and feathers gold masks. Other artifacts made ​​of clay, decorated with shells wood and textiles, the marine birds that represent fish and shellfish divers, were found further north in Ecuador. From writing Spanish colonists in this region, one takes that a " Responsible highest degree" must create a red carpet " Spondyle " shell, the pulverized under the feet of the ruler. The textiles and numerous objects made ​​of ceramic and metal, dating from the Lambayeque Valley, are a combination of local elements, the Mochica and the Huari, with characteristic features such as eyes, croissant -like headgear and marine motifs. The representation of the mythical " Naymlap " with its exaggerated slit eyes are regularly used as a decorative motif. It has been found in numerous archaeological excavations within the cultural circle of Lambayeque, especially during excavations in Rio Sana Valley on red, black and white colored masonry. Identical figures with almond eyes and crescent-shaped hairstyle resemble Naymlaps image. Naymlap can also be found on Lambayeques infamous Tumi ( from gold and precious stones embellished sacrificial dagger used in the Moche and Lambayeque culture ) in the Museo de Oro in Lima as well as on various fabric and ceramic objects.

Main locations

Each pyramid is ruled by a hierarchical society, headed by a ruler resided, who was revered as a demigod. Pyramids of the Lambayeque culture played a special role, they helped the rulers to borrow the powers of the mountain of God. New discoveries show that every place was abandoned after major natural disasters. In fact, caused by the El Nino meteorological phenomena in this part of the world are especially fierce. The effects of these phenomena was founded by religious origin, for example, as an expression of divine wrath. Accordingly, the forces of the pyramids had failed to protect the people. The pyramids were then considered to be cursed and burned in a " cleansing ritual ".

Batan Grande is located in the valley of La Leche flow. It is a collection of pyramids, including as Huaca de la Cruz, Huara del Oro, Huaca Colorada and Huaca de los Ingenios are known. They were made ​​of stone and adobe bricks ( mixed in the sun -dried clay with straw) prepared and then coated. As a result of a flood Batan Grande could leave around 1100 AD and have been set on fire, and a new site was created in Túcume. Around 1350 AD, the territory of the Lambayeque people was conquered by the spread of the Chimu Kingdom, whose capital is Chan Chan.

Túcume is located in the La Leche Valley near the present-day cities Mochumi and Lambayeque. This wide archaeological complex is also called El Purgatorio. It covers an area of ​​220 hectares and contains 26 pyramidal structures, which are probably dated from 600 to 1000 AD. Make the heyday of Lambayeque, Chimu and Huari cultures dar. It must be a settlement that was built at the foot of the Cerro la Raya Mountain, and their circular planes remains of residential units, cult consecrated pyramids, terraces and courtyards contain. There you will find hints, ranging from the original Lambayeque to the Inca occupation, what two important monuments testify the " Huaca Larga " with colossal dimensions of more than 700 meters, built of adobe bricks, and the small " Templo de la Piedra Sagrada ", which has been studied by archaeologist Alfredo Narváez. This provided a lot of information about religious practices from the time of Lambayeque. Túcume was apparently abandoned when it was told of the arrival of the Spanish armies, who rode on exceptional animals ( previously had never seen a horse ), after which the population was covered by panic. In fact, the conquerors were considered mythological gods. 2005 119 decapitated bodies were found with traces of narcotics; Human sacrifice. When the offering was not working, the site was abandoned and cleaned.

The Legend of Naymlap

Naymlaps existence as the legendary founder of the ruling family in the Lambayeque valley was given in writing in the 16th century by the chronicler Cabello de Balboa.

Naymlap therefore the banks of the Lambayeque Coast has reached with a retinue of forty noblemen and numerous wives and servants on a boat made ​​from woven reeds. He probably came from the Pacific Ocean. Some historians, such as Thor Heyerdahl of Kon-Tiki, brought forward the hypothesis of an oceanic migration to Peru. Naymlap seized the Lambayeque Valley, whose king he was then.