An Unusual Stone Sculpture from Huaca EI Gallo/La Gallina, Virú Valley, Peru

Abstract

Excavations in 1994 at the Middle Guañape site of Huaca El Gallo, the largest Formative site in the Middle Virú Valley of Peru, revealed an unusual stone sculpture. The body of the sculpture appears to have been carved to represent some type of aquatic creature, possibly a fish, although differences in the depiction on either side of the stone may suggest that both a fish and a frog or toad are shown. Several secondary images, including a snake, small faces, and an animal head are located on the top of the sculpture. Although radiocarbon dates are pending, the carving was associated with a tomb, whose artifactual content and burial position argue for an Initial Period date (ca. 180–900 B.C.).