Radiocarbon Dates from the Monumental Architecture at Chavín de Huántar, Perú

Abstract

Chavin de Huantar's monumental architecture has long influenced archaeologists' ideas about Formative Andean sociopolitical development despite little direct knowledge of the buildings' chronology. Addressing this problem, we collected charcoal samples from architectural mortar at Chavin to directly date the site's construction sequence. Here we present 32 new accelerator mass spectrometer (AMS) dates for Chavin's architectural growth. We also present an evaluation framework for analyzing whether dates from architectural mortar most likely represent built-in age, original construction, or renovation work. We apply this framework to link dates to specific building events within the sequence. Results demonstrate the power of directly dating architectural mortar and the necessity of both thoroughly understanding a site's relative architectural sequence and applying a rigorous evaluation framework when analyzing the resulting dates. Specifically, analysis indicates that architectural growth largely occurred during 400 years, approximately 1200–800 calibrated years BC (calBC), with massive, intensive construction approximately 1000–800 calBC. Thirteen of Chavin's 15 known architectural phases were built during this 400-year period. The overwhelming majority of Chavin's characteristic elements developed as part of this growth, including the physical design of Chavin's ritual systems in its galleries and plazas, large-scale landscape modification and civil engineering works, Chavin art and symbolic systems, and the incorporation of Formative Andean architectural forms. Relative architectural stasis occurred approximately 800–500 calBC, corresponding with developments in Chavin's material culture and followed by physical collapse. Architectural renovations occurred throughout the sequence. In sum, Chavin's architectural chronology spanned approximately 1200–500 calBC—notably different than previously proposed ranges based on few dates—providing new architectural insights into Chavin's sociopolitical development.