RESIDENTIAL SUB-COMPLEX A5

The Residential Sub-complex A5 was built in the Southeastern side of the upper half. It was part of the Major Residential complex of Caral Urban Center.

It is comprised by houses built with quincha (wattle and daub), grouped on a wide quadrangular stone platform. It is larger than any other residential sub-complex of the upper half of city.

The houses were hierarchically organized around a shared central space. The most outstanding residence of the sub-complex was accessed through a main staircase, while other spaces at the upper of the platform were accessed through a secondary staircase. Each residence was formed by a main entry room and other secondary rooms for multiple uses, besides domestic duties.

SIZE

Height: 1.7 m

N-S: 36.3 m

E-W: 60 m

Surface: 2,130 m2

Urban Role

The Residential Sub-complex A5 was built in the southeastern area of the upper half, location that facilitated access to activities conducted in that public space. Together with the La Huanca Minor Pyramidal Building, they bordered the main access street to the Central Plaza from the West. From the top it was possible to monitor all activities at the Central Plaza and in the entire lower half of Caral.

Use

In general, the sub-complex was used for domestic activities, though some ceremonial fire pits surrounded by benches are evidence of private ceremonial activities. Some rooms have also been used as workshops and warehouses.

Building Technique

They built the first residential units with quincha, directly on the ground. They used stones for the walls of the benches and the quincha rooms. Afterwards, they built a wide platform with cut-stone masonry joined with mortar and clay, and a deposit made of shicras, stone and dirt. On the platform they built many residences with quincha walls; and in the next period the houses were made of stone masonry.

COMPONENTS

Platform

Main staircase

Secondary stairs

Main residential unit Residential units Courtyard

FINDINGS IN THE RESIDENTIAL SUBCOMPLEX A5

Polisher - stone masher.

Digging bars.

Stone masher.