The Chincha culture flourished between the years 900 to 1450 AD, it developed in the valleys of Cañete, Chincha, Pisco, Ica and Nazca. They probably constituted a militaristic regional state inferior to the Chimú, which ventured into the Andean region, which offered tenacious resistance to the advance of the Inca Empire.
Political organization of the Chincha culture
The geographical location in which this culture was settled gave it political importance, since it was able to bring together the chiefdoms and lordships of the central and southern coast, which in this way presented themselves as a nucleus compared to the Chimús of the north and the Incas. of Cuzco to which is added the dominion they exercised over the sea. In the same way, the inhabitants of the Chincha culture captured the cultural elements that, although they showed their own stamp, however, could not be free from the influence of their ancestors such as the Paracas, Nazcas and even the Waris themselves. With all these elements, the inhabitants of the Chincha culture exercised their political preponderance in these places for two centuries.
Artistic expressions
Architecture
They did not build large cities and their architecture is expressed in the temples, palaces and fortresses that they built with adobe and adobe as the basis of these constructions. They practiced the stucco technique, decorating the walls with the heads of fish, gannets and other sea birds. Around these buildings they built houses made of mats and reeds where the majority of the population lived.
Ceramics
The huacos were made of red clay, with decorations on their surface with geometric motifs and anthropomorphic figures, stylized birds and fish. The colors used were black, white, grey, cream and red. This ceramic denotes a certain Wari influence but at the same time expresses uniqueness with the globular body slits and the long neck joined by intermediate handles.
Trade and navigation
Moved by the economic expansion of the Chincha culture, they sailed across the sea on large rafts, ensuring that they reached the current port of Valdivia (Chile). Thus they would practice a form of commerce for which they had a system of weights, measures and scales, in such a way that they exchanged their products of goldsmithing, fabrics, woodwork and even dried fish, for others that served them as food or for their consumption. craft development.
Its religious deity was Chinchaycámac and its capital the town of Chincha, being, in turn, the last ruler of this Guavia Rucana culture.
At the time of the Inca expansion they were conquered and became part of the powerful Tahuantinsuyo.
Where is the Chincha culture located?
The chiefs of the tribes were located at the top of the Chinchaycamac valley. They called themselves chinchas, whose meaning is “Jaguars of Castro.” Although they populated the areas of Lima, Arequipa, and the Ica Valleys, their civilization was centralized in the Chincha Valley.
Capital of Chincha culture
The highest peak of chincha is in the district of San Pedro de Huacarpana, known as Auquichanca. From this place, possibly, the Chinchano merchants departed, using two routes: the southern one, including Collao, Cuzco, Apurímac, Ayacucho; and the north, with Cerro de Pasco, Ancash, Yauyos, Huancayo.
For protection, they chose to populate the highest parts of the Valley and called them chincha. The first was to protect oneself from the stone collapses caused by seismic movements; and the second, to better safeguard and defend itself from territorial attacks from other tribes.
What does Chincha mean?
Chincha is a term that comes from “Chinchay” or “Cinca”, its meaning is “jaguar”. While “Chincaycamac” means “creator of the jaguar.” The god of the chinchas was called “Chinchay” whose representation was this feline. The figures of the animal and other petroglyphs are found carved in the stones of the current Huancor area. Also in wood, metal objects, ceramics and even looms.
Who discovered the Chincha culture?
Max Uhle, the German archaeologist. He was the first scientist to study this interesting culture. This was partially known, mainly, thanks to the chronicles of the Spanish era.
Characteristics of the Chincha culture
The first period of civilization experienced scarcity. Their subsistence was sustained by the practice of collecting, especially seashells, and fishing. This first stage is known as pre-chincha. Starting in the 11th century, there was a cultural emancipation; This made them propose a promotion in their practices.
They created their own architecture. They developed methods for agriculture, which included a water irrigation system to deal with dry seasons.
Due to their proximity to the Peruvian coast, they learned to trace maritime route trajectories to trade with other tribes. Between 1438 and 1471, they annexed the Inca Empire, a civilized invasion proposal that shed no blood. Financial and political relations were established and the Chinchas maintained their leader and added independence to the Inca culture.
Annexing involved accepting certain guidelines:
- Presence of Inca workers on the hill.
- Build a sanctuary to the sun.
- Build an Inca administration center in the Chincha capital.
- Give lands to the Incas.
- The subordination and accompaniment of the Chincha lord to the Inca in Cuzco.
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Cultural manifestations of the Chincha culture
There were multiple cultural manifestations. The majority focused on commercial production and exchange. Among the most relevant are:
Ceramics
In the ceramics of the Chincha culture there were ovoid vessels and pitchers, which were decorated, on purple, with black and white. The spellings reflected small, symmetrical motifs. Many of them copied from textiles, inspired by humans and animals: fish and birds.
Architecture
In the architecture of the Chincha culture, the buildings were not huge or sumptuous. The materials they used for their constructions were rammed earth, adobones and mud. To decorate the walls they used plaster. With it, they created heads of fish and birds like the pelican. Their residential spaces were made near the sanctuaries.
Textile
In the textiles of the Chincha culture, their manual skill with threads stood out. Their beautiful fabrics could be manufactured, per inch of line, with up to 398 threads. They made baskets and mats from cotton, they also added geometric figures.
Metallurgy
Metals, silver and gold, were fused to make utensils, especially glasses. Human figures were molded, which stood out over the animals. Often, the aquiline nose was very representative of the figures.
Sculpture
His sculptures were mainly made of wood and metal. From this they manipulated a sheet until they achieved the desired shape. His main technique was hammering, without welded metal joints. While, the wood was carved to make life-size human figures.
Chincha woodcut
It is a wood engraving technique that was used in pre-Hispanic culture to create ceremonial objects and works of art. This technique is characterized by the use of geometric figures, patterns and mythical characters that represent the culture and worldview of the Chinchanos.
One of the most impressive objects of the Chincha woodcut is the ceremonial paddle, which was worked in a neat and detailed way by Chinchano artisans. This paddle features five mythical characters dressed in different headdresses, birds and geometric figures, demonstrating the skill and symbolic richness of chincha woodcut in the creation of works of art.
Economy
In the economic aspect, it is possible that the capacity for commercial work and its administrative organization has been decisive for the Inca empire. Since they considered that the chinchas could generate profits within their own kingdom.
The interregional connection allowed them to establish triangular trade. This meant that they exchanged products with the southern Andean zone (copper, wool, dried meat), the northern coasts (shells, gold, emeralds) and the southern coasts (dried fish, pumpkins, cochayuyo).
Agriculture
Planting took place in the period called the late intermediate period. The crops of cassava, corn, and potatoes are vestiges of its great agricultural activity.
Cattle raising
Around the same time, they learned to raise camelids in coastal areas. However, the breeding that was most intensified and that is still maintained in Peru, was that of the guinea pig. Well, it became the main ingredient in their meals.
Religion
Before belonging to the Inca empire, they did not worship the sun. On the coast, their gods were Chinchaycámac, the Oracle of Chinchay and the guaca Urpay Guachac, goddess of birds and guano. The latter was an island that they considered Pachacamac's wife. Which suggests that his cult was subordinated to the religious center of Pachacamac.
Social and political organization
In the social aspect, this culture put into practice the system of lordship. In this system, the inhabitants of the tribes were in a dependent relationship with the lord. A chief who protected and guided in the affairs of the territory.
A lord governed various regions of the Chincha territory. Those who lived in those areas were called Chinchaycapac. A society distributed into different classes. In the first place, there were the nobles, the administrative tasks of the society were in their charge. Secondly, there were the most important religious representatives, that is, the priests. And, thirdly, the inhabitants who made up the town: artisans, merchants, fishermen, farmers, goldsmiths.
It should be noted that the Chinchas were a complex hierarchical civilization. This was divided into three large economic groups: fishing, trade and agriculture. There was also a small group made up of producers who specialized in making flip flops, ceramics, fabrics, and pyrography objects. The people who were dedicated to goldsmithing were also very important.
They were invaded by the Incas when they were governed by the admired Inca Pachacutec. But it was not until the government of Túpac Inca Yupanqui that the integration process was concluded peacefully.
The system of lordship of the chinchas, with their confederated tribes, was maintained. Under the empire of the Incas, each great lord continued to be important. Guavia Rucana was the last lord monarch of the chinchas.
A summary of the Chincha culture involves clarifying that its name is a term that comes from “Chinchay” or “Cinca”. Its meaning is “jaguar”. While “Chincaycamac” means “creator of the jaguar.” The god of the chinchas was called Chinchay, whose representation was this feline. The figures of the animal and other petroglyphs are found carved in the stones of the current Huancor area. Also in wood, metal objects, ceramics and even looms.
