Cajamarca Pottery
Cajamarca pottery is a distinctive ceramic tradition originating from the Andean region of Peru, specifically associated with the Cajamarca culture. Characterized by its cursive style, this pottery features painted, scroll-like designs that resemble written text and is crafted from pale, calcium-rich kaolin clay. Dating back to potentially as early as 200 B.C.E. and continuing until around 1000 C.E., Cajamarca pottery is typically adorned with red or black motifs set against a cream-colored background, often depicting small animal figures and faces. The pottery mostly takes the form of shallow bowls with ring bases and served as a popular trade item throughout the Early Intermediate to Middle Horizon periods, influencing communities both north and south of Cajamarca. The peak production of this pottery occurred between 300 and 400 C.E., reflecting the cultural flourishing of the region. The origins of the Cajamarca people trace back to hunter-gatherer societies that transitioned into agriculturalists and skilled potters over time, with the area having been settled by various groups, including the Huacaloma and Otuzco. The eventual decline of the Cajamarca culture is thought to have been linked to climate changes, marking a significant transformation in the region's history.
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Subject Terms
Cajamarca Pottery
Related civilizations:Chavín, Wari.
Date: 300-400 c.e.
Locale: Peru, Andes, Cajamarca Basin
Cajamarca Pottery
Cajamarca (kah-hah-MAHR-kah) pottery of the cursive style, so called because of its painted, scroll-like designs suggestive of writing, was made of pale, calcium-rich kaolin clay. This style appears to be free of any outside influences and was made in Andean Peru from as early as 200 b.c.e. until around 1000 c.e. It was painted red or black, against a creme-colored background, sometimes with small animal figures and faces, and formed, for the most part, into shallow bowls with ring bases. The pottery was a popular trade item from the Early Intermediate period to the end of the Middle Horizon period and among peoples to both the north and south. The pottery and Cajamarca, the city that produced it, reached a peak from 300 to 400 c.e.
The ancestors of the people of Cajamarca were hunter-gatherers who later became agriculturalists and potters. The area was settled by successive groups of people: the Huacaloma, Layozn, Combe Mayo, and the Otuzco. These earlier settlements culminated in the Cajamarca culture. Its demise was most likely caused by changes in climate.
Bibliography
Burger, Richard. Chavín and the Origins of Andean Civilization. New York: Thames and Hudson, 1992.
Donnan, Christopher B. Ceramics of Ancient Peru. Los Angeles: Fowler Museum of Cultural History, University of California, 1992.