Kuntur Wasi Museum was inaugurated in 1994, officially recognized by the
Ministry of Culture as a museum in which those most precious objects unearthed
during the excavations are kept and exhibited in the form of custody.
This museum was donated by the Japanese mission to the Cultural Association
organized by the people of Kuntur Wasi village who have been in charge of
administration, promotion for tourism, education, and human development.
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Scale model of Kuntur Wasi
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Snake High Relief (Replica)
Copa phase.
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Chavinoid relief
Note the tusks and face tabby typical of Chavín art.
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Art of Kuntur Wasi
Artefacts recovered from Kuntur Wasi site, such as fine ceramics, stone
sculptures, carved bones and seashells, and metal objects are
elaborately and artistically designed though they belong to very early
times in the long history of Andean Civilization.
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The figurative and geometric designs drawn on the artefacts give us a
hint to the mythological world people shared in the Formative period.
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And also articles such as mortars, needles and tupus (shawl
pins) suggest us what they ate and wore in their daily life.
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Cerro Blanco
Cerro Blanco is an archaeological site, located 1.5 km (0.9 mi)
northeast from Kuntur Wasi, on the hill descending from San Pablo.
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The excavation was carried out in 1985 by the Archaeological Mission
of the University of Tokyo.
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They discovered a tomb with offerings of 7 ceramics, necklaces and
other ornaments made from stone and materials from the sea.
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The stirrup-spout bottle was older than other bottles from the tombs
in Kuntur Wasi.
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The first inhabitants of Cerro Blanco were the people of the "La
Conga" phase (1500 - 1200 BCE).
- During this phase, Kuntur Wasi was still unoccupied.
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Idol phase (950 - 800 BCE)
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Idol phase (950 - 800 BCE)
At the beginning of the Idolo phase Kuntur Wasi was converted into a
ceremonial center with platforms and plazas, whose floors and walls were
coated with white lime.
- Some buildings were adorned with colorful mud friezes.
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This phase has a strong similarity with other sites around Cajamarca
city as well as in the middle Jequetepeque valley sharing many
characteristics of their ceramics and architecture.
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Clay idol
This mud figure is called the Idol; it is painted in various colors and
represents a mythological image.
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This idol was found face down on floor of a small low platform of the
Idolo phase.
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In this platform there are traces of a small room which was painted in
white. In the centre of this room, the Tomb of sacrifice was prepared
during the Kuntur Wasi phase.
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The idol was lying on the floor outside the room, with a feline face
and its body. The arms were fragmented. The unfinished back of the
idol means that this figure was a high relief attached to the outside
of the wall of the room. The mouth with jaguar fangs is painted red
with cinnabar and the head has a thin yellow ribbon. On the chest it
is wearing a collar-pectoral painted in green which means that the
object is made of stones like chrysocolla.
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The contrast of the Idol having various colours on with the white wall
should have been impressive, giving the temple a pompous and imposing
atmosphere.
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Ceramic bottle
Idol phase.
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Kuntur Wasi Phase: 800 BCE - 550 BCE
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Ceramic bottle
Kuntur Wasi phase.
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Clay figurine
Kuntur Wasi phase.
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Copa phase (500 - 250 BCE)
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Copa phase (500 - 250 BCE)
The following phase was “The Copa Phase". Although the U-shaped temple
complex continued, a series of modification was noticed in the backyard
of the main temple. The circular sunken court was filled upon which a
rectangular plaza was constructed. A small U-shaped temple was built
facing to the south, complex of Temple U opened toward the south and a
staircase was added above the retention walls of the south side. All the
buildings and plazas were made with hard yellow floors with a white lime
finish. The drainage system of underground canals was improved. Two
special tombs were placed under a small platform complex section of the
plaza together with gold objects as well as ceramic bottles and cups.
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This Copa Phase suffered a violent fiery destruction at the end of sub
phase 2 and a series of rustic construction projects from sub phase 3
were erected on top of the rubble. This third sub phase, however,
seems that it didn’t last long. The temple of the Copa phase was
totally destroyed by the arrival of a new culture, which is the Sotera
Phase.
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Clay figurines
Copa phase.
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Ceramic bottle
Copa phase.
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Ceramic bottle
Copa phase.
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Ceramic bottle
Copa phase.
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Stone sculpture
Copa phase.
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Stone sculpture
Copa phase.
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Wall painting
Copa phase.
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Sotera phase (250 - 50 BCE)
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Sotera phase (250 - 50 BCE)
The last phase was “The Sotera Phase” (250-50 BCE). It resembles “The
Layzon Phase” in the Cajamarca valley.
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They are breeders of the llamas whose bones can be found in large
numbers during excavations.
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It seems that the people of the Sotera phase paid no respect to the
preceding religious tradition and totally destroyed the buildings. The
front facade was also covered with stones and soil. Kuntur Wasi ceased
to be as a ceremonial center.
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Ceramic jug
Sotera phase.
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Lunch
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Lunch in front of the museum entrance
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See also
Source
Location
