The Organization of Mining in Nasca During the Early Intermediate Period: Recent Evidence from Mina Primavera

Abstract

This paper considers mining in Nasca, south coast of Peru from the perspective of Mina Primavera, a prehispanic hematite mine located in the Ingenio Valley and exploited predominantly during the Early Intermediate period. Our work at the site has revealed the evolution and organization of mining in Nasca including its practice embedded within rituals most likely related to propitiation. Our principal conclusions are that (1) mining was an important activity for prehispanic south coast societies and it was embedded in other aspects of prehispanic life; (2) hematite mining at Mina Primavera was most active during the first few centuries of the first millennium ad coinciding with the Early Nasca phases of the Early Intermediate period; (3) we hypothesize that intensification during this time was due to the demand for high-quality hematite during Early Nasca.