SALINAR, VIRU & VICUS CULTURES

Even when we know for sure that the northern coast of Peru was, since the beginnings of our history, a cultural development center, is just at the end of the Early Horizon when high specialized societies in the coastal ecologic systems exploitation. These societies reached high complexity levels in politics as well as in socioeconomic. The cultures Salinar, Viru and Vicus contributed to this organizational development of the northern coast, but undoubtedly were the Mochica the ones that capitalized all this cultural baggage. In this same period, we find other important cultural development in the southern coast; among them we find Nasca culture. Nasca and Mochica are the societies from the Early Intermediate that could be considered as the first organized States of the central Andes. Societies as Nasca and Mochica not only expand their domain over a specific region, they also articulated entire communities around its central organization, achieving the proper manpower for the edification of ceremonial centers and hydraulic works. In both cases, the chief element was the gods' imposition and cult control.

SALINAR CULTURE

Between the years 500 and 100 B.C., this culture was settled at the same territory where the Cupisnique culture developed. When Chavin decayed, this politically disincorporated culture aroused, but with a very different pottery from Cupisnique. The oldest traces were found between the valleys of Piura and Viru, showing a huge interrelation with earlier and contemporary cultures. It principal legacy was the cupper and gold alloy.

Architecture. There are two important sites: Cerro Arena (Moche valley), with more than two thousand stone structures displayed on about two square kilometers, and the Salinar cemetery, found at the Guañape port, at the Viru valley. The Salinar decorated its constructions with geometric incisions and zoomorphic and naturalistic applications. They built their tombs with an elliptic shape. We know their dead men were buried with their legs crossed and surrounded by pottery and jewelry.

Pottery. The escaped from the black monochromy from past culture and used vive colors, like red over white background.

VIRU OR "GALLINAZO" CULTURE

Established on the same territories occupied by the Salinar culture, the Viru culture -also called "Gallinazo"- lasted from the 100 B.C. to 400 A.D.

The Viru's most important archaeological site is the Gallinazo urban complex, controlling the entire valley from there. They achieve to extend their territory and influence until Huarmey valley (Ancash). The end of this culture arrive with the invasion and conquest suffered from the mighty Mochica.

Architecture. There are four construction types:

• Ceremonial urban centers: large pyramids intended for ceremonial and religious activities.
• Fortresses: huge buildings placed on strategic sites that control the valleys. They were used to guard and defend the population settled on the valleys.
• House: with rooms and gabled roofs; they were usually remote one from another. Is presumed that there used to live important characters and agricultural officials.
• Villages: houses built with low resistant materials (reed, carob tree) where the populace lived.

Pottery and metallurgy. Ceramics decorated using as background the natural color of the object, applying a black colored organic pigment. They worked mainly in geometric designs. The Viru worked also the copper, gold and silver with the hammer technique.

VICUS CULTURE

Developed during the first four centuries of our age (0 to 400 A.D.), this enigmatic culture was centered on the Vicus hill, 50 kilometers east of the actual city of Piura. The cultural exchange of Vicus must have been really dynamic, judging upon the different characteristic of other contemporary cultures (Salinar, Viru and even Mochica) found on their pottery and gold work. Some experts esteem that the Vicus' territorial expansion could have reached the southern mountain range of Ecuador. Other researchers assure that the Vicus culture was a sort of colony of the Mochicas, which probably impelled them to be an agricultural society instead of a warrior one. Another position propose that the Vicus culture was multiethnic and let the coexistence of different traditions without letting anyone to dominate.

Pottery and metallurgy. It nurtured from different styles from other cultures, but developed on its apogee an interesting own style called Vicus-Vicus. This style follows a grotesque aesthetic of giant zoomorphic images and human beings totally disproportionate. Is with the metallurgy that the Vicus excel in a remarkably way. They used many metals (gold, silver, copper) and alloys for the stylish pieces of work they made (pectorals, crowns and ornaments), founded in their tombs.

Architecture. The curious "L" shaped tombs, some of them with 14 meters deepness and an entrance of just 75 centimeters diameter, shows advanced knowledge in mortuary architecture. The dead people were buried them, next to the oblations, ornaments and clothes.