Initial Period

The next epoch, called the Initial Period by the American scholar John H. Rowe, and the Lower Formative by the Peruvian archaeologist Luis G. Lumbreras, began with the introduction of pottery. The earliest ceramics have yielded radiocarbon dates of about 1800 bce, although…

…before the beginning of the Initial Period (c. 2100–1800 bc). It is notable for its large mud and rock apartment-like dwelling units. It is believed to be roughly contemporaneous with the Preceramic Period structures of Kotosh, in the Peruvian highlands. El Paraíso buildings show a similar level of population density…

…had earlier prototypes in the Initial Period (c. 1800–900 bc). During this period a sedentary agricultural way of life became fully established in Peru, with the development of such crafts as weaving, pottery making, and stone carving. The significance of Chavín is that for the first time many of the…