A Vessel for Ethnicity

How Pottery Reflects Identity in the SIAR of Chan Chan

Abstract

This study investigates the role of pottery in expressing social identity within the residential neighborhoods of Chan Chan (1050/1100 - 1450 CE), the capital of the ancient Chimú civilization on the North Coast of Peru. The research examines a collection of 255 ceramic materials excavated during the 2022 field season under the direction of Professor Gabriel Prieto. Previous excavations at Chan Chan have uncovered non-local materials such as featherwork, textiles, and food, suggesting the presence of diverse ethnic groups within the city (Lobell 2023). How these groups functioned in Chimu society is still under speculation, but the material evidence suggests production of local and non-local styles was contemporaneous in the city. While prior studies have extensively examined wares from the Small, Irregular, Agglutinated Rooms (SIAR) of Chan Chan, this research uniquely focuses on the expression of ethnicity through ceramic decoration. The materials reveal the production techniques and artistic styles of residents from the BJ unit, a neighborhood part of the SIAR that housed the majority of Chan Chan’s population and potentially served as a dynamic space of cultural interaction (Topic 1982, 1990). By analyzing stylistic attributes, surface treatments, and decorative elements through a comparative lens informed by the archaeological context, this study aims to uncover how pre-Hispanic artisans expressed local and non-local identities in the great urban metropolis.

Accessibility Summary:

In accordance with Title II regulations this content meets all points of exemption as Archived web content and/or Preexisting conventional electronic documents.