MINOR PUBLIC PYRAMIDAL BUILDING C

Building of a quadrangular plan, formed by stepped platforms, on top of which they built a centered entrance hall and ceremonial hall, surrounded by other smaller rooms.

Four construction periods have been identified. In the later period the building measured 15 meters from east to west, 57 meters from north to south and it was 4 meters high.

In the oldest period, low quadrangular platforms were built, on top of which they built rooms facing the east. Walls were built with small pebbles in irregular rows, joined with beige clay mortar, and plastered with white clay.

Subsequently, the existing architecture was destroyed and a quadrangular platform was built on top. Using a narrow and built-in staircase people could access the top, where a central area was built and divided into two areas, a front and a rear one, with a central fire pit and low and stepped benches, respectively. Another smaller lateral room was built.

In the third period, the building was covered with a platform, on which two central areas were built, one next to the other. In the first one there are low benches, and the second one has a central fire pit surrounded by benches and walls with rounded external corners. Other smaller rooms were built on the northern and southern sides, with curved corners. The walls of the enclosures and the benches were built with small pebbles, arranged in irregular rows, joined with beige clay mortar, and plastered with light beige clay.

Finally, the building was enlarged by remodeling the stepped platforms. The central builtin staircase was reduced, and three rooms with curved corners were built at the top, a central one and two lateral ones of similar dimensions and characteristics: with a central fire pit surrounded by benches. The walls of the enclosures and the benches are made of small pebbles, arranged in irregular rows, and joined with beige mortar. The walls are plastered with light beige clay.

PERIOD 1

MINOR PUBLIC PYRAMIDAL

Economic Aspects

Botanical remains have been recovered from the deposits of major and minor pyramidal buildings, such as guava, squash, beans and cotton, as well as shellfish remains, such as as zapato mussels (Choromytilus chorus), macha (Mesodesma donacium), sea snails (Oliva peruviana), black sea snail (Tegula sp.) and chanque (Concholepas concholepas), and fish remains, such as anchovy (Engraulis ringens) and sardine (Sardinops sagax). This was a mixed economy based on agricultural-fishing activities.

Social, Political and Ideological Aspects

The characteristics of the architectural components -halls with central fire pits, surrounded by benches, located at the top of the buildingsare evidence of past ceremonies, which participants had different social status.

Likewise, the building size and the technology applied indicate the participation of specialists and of a reduced but organized work force. The number of workers depended on the status of their leaders. The number is comparatively smaller than those of other Supe Valley centers (Piedra Parada and Allpacoto).

Interpretation in relation to the Caral Civilization

Based on the recovered archaeological data, we can state that El Moli no center was built during the Early Formative period and, unlike other settlements such as Miraya and Era de Pando, it was not previously inhabited. Its residents’ roles would have been connected to their links with the socioeconomic trade network between the coastline and the valley sites.