Social, Political and Ideological Aspects

Public architecture with buildings and continuous remodeling shows us the complex social organization of the Piedra Parada people, as well as the differences of location, design, components, dimensions and decoration.

The differentiated consumption of marine, agricultural and hill resources also show social differences.

The ideology, an instrument of social control managed by the ruling group, materialized in ceremonies that used circular squares, ceremonial halls with friezes and altars with a fire pit and an underground ventilation duct.

Funerary chambers were prepared in the enclosures of some higher rank public buildings.

Interpretation in relation to the Caral civilization

Although Piedra Parada has cultural elements of the Caral tradition, we can also see changes in architecture and life forms similar to those that have been recorded in the Vichama archaeological site, in the Vegueta town, Huaura Valley. While the prestige of the Caral civilization - thanks to its process of interregional integration - remained in the collective imagery, new socio-political, economic and ideological scenarios were taken place while overcoming a social crisis caused by climate change.

Location

El Molino archaeological site is accessed taking the exit at kilometer 184 of the Pan-American Highway, and then continuing four kilometers towards Ambar.

Polygonal Occupation Site

Paved road

Population center Supe River

Political location:

Department: Lima / Province: Barranca

District: Supe

Geographic location: Area: 18S

Reference system: WGS84

UTM coordinates:

208 774.96 E / 8 801 232.12 N

Average altitude: 60 m a.s.l

Urban center area: 7.57 ha

Geographic Aspects

The settlement had access to the resources of the river and riverside forest, springs, agricultural lands and roads leading to the Tayta Laynes gully and the coastline.

Background

In 1978, Carlos Williams and Manuel Merino recorded the El Molino site as a settlement with pyramids arranged in a U-shape, facing south. In his study on the livelihood patterns of the Supe Valley, Elzbieta Zechenter (1988: 276) adopted the proposal of Williams and Merino. Between 1994 and 1995, during their archaeological exploration, Ruth Shady and her investigation team also included it among the urban centers of the Early Formative period of the Valley.

Before the Zona Arqueológica de Caral began its research in El Molino, the site was greatly

The archaeological site

El Molino archaeological site was declared national cultural heritage by National Director’s Resolution 720/INC, dated August 1, 2002.

El Molino archaeological site shows evidence of several occupation periods. The population of the Early Formative period settled on the valley plains, where low-rise residences were built. Subsequently, it was expanded to the northeast, reaching a 2.4 ha surface. This built space, not yet researched, was covered with pyramidal buildings.

affected by the constructions of the old hacienda and cooperative; and the most recent squatters of some families on the archaeological buildings. Hence, the Zona Arqueológica Caral began site enhancement works in 2012, with investigations in the Minor Public Building Pyramid C (Sector C) and in the Major Public Building Pyramid A (Sector A), which are still being carried out to date.

At the top of both public buildings, both built as stepped pyramids, there were ceremonial halls with benches and fire pits whose facades faced a central public space. Based on archaeological evidence, it has been established that this settlement corresponds to the Early Formative period.

Finally, the site was abandoned and the population used it as a cemetery during the Middle Horizon period.

During the 20th century, the owners of Hacienda San Nicolás settled in the area, flattened the top of the buildings and built on top of them. The plantation workers occupied the nearby lands, in the area called El Molino Viejo. With the Agrarian Reform, the former workers occupied the facilities of the former plantation, and El Molino Nuevo town was founded.

Urban Design of the Early Formative period

El Molino archaeological site still has monuments from the core area: remains of a major public pyramidal building (Sector A) and two minor public pyramidal buildings (sectors B and C). These buildings, arranged in a “U” shape, were built around an open public space that covered almost one hectare. A few meters southwest of the buildings there is a small unexcavated mound.

The Major Public Pyramidal Building A, facing south, stands out for its size and its central location. The Minor Public Pyramidal buildings B and C were built on both sides of this building. The social status of the building owners is represented by the façades facing the central public space.

A series of outstanding architectural changes have been identified in the public buildings. At a certain moment, the enclosures of a previous occupation were destroyed and larger buildings were erected on top, with other building techniques, architectural design, and even orientation.