"With this new information, we need to rethink our ideas about the economic, social and cultural development of the beginnings of civilization in Peru and all of South America." After 1800 BC, when the settlements were abandoned, it is likely that the Norte Chico people moved to other parts of Peru, taking their innovations and culture with them. "One very likely scenario is that they took their irrigation further north and further south to areas that were more productive," said Professor Creamer. "It is interesting that in the Casma valley, which is directly north, there are even bigger pyramids, and that was the next major cultural event." Question of qualification Professor Creamer believes it is possible that other major Andean cultures, like the Chavin civilization, which thrived about 3,000 years ago, may have descended from the Norte Chico people, or been culturally influenced by them. However, there is still some discussion as to whether the Norte Chico society actually qualified as a "civilization" itself. Different anthropologists have different definitions of the word, and the Norte Chico people fell outside some of them. "Some people would say they were not a civilization," said Professor Creamer. "They had very few arts and crafts for example - they were pre-ceramic. "And if civilization needs urbanization - well, we don't know if these sites qualify as urban centers yet." Whatever the definition of civilization, Professor Creamer and her team are just glad archaeologists discovered these historic sites before they got destroyed by modern agriculture. "Peru has laws to protect sites like this one, but they don't always work," she said. "We are very lucky we got to explore these sites before they were buried under drip irrigation or chicken farms." *Next listen to the podcast from BBC History of the World in a 100 Objects” “A Record any notes in the graphic organizer below
"With this new information, we need to rethink our ideas about the economic, social and cultural development of the beginnings of civilization in Peru and all of South America." After 1800 BC, when the settlements were abandoned, it is likely that the Norte Chico people moved to other parts of Peru, taking their innovations and culture with them. "One very likely scenario is that they took their irrigation further north and further south to areas that were more productive," said Professor Creamer. "It is interesting that in the Casma valley, which is directly north, there are even bigger pyramids, and that was the next major cultural event." Question of qualification Professor Creamer believes it is possible that other major Andean cultures, like the Chavin civilization, which thrived about 3,000 years ago, may have descended from the Norte Chico people, or been culturally influenced by them. However, there is still some discussion as to whether the Norte Chico society actually qualified as a "civilization" itself. Different anthropologists have different definitions of the word, and the Norte Chico people fell outside some of them. "Some people would say they were not a civilization," said Professor Creamer. "They had very few arts and crafts for example - they were pre-ceramic. "And if civilization needs urbanization - well, we don't know if these sites qualify as urban centers yet." Whatever the definition of civilization, Professor Creamer and her team are just glad archaeologists discovered these historic sites before they got destroyed by modern agriculture. "Peru has laws to protect sites like this one, but they don't always work," she said. "We are very lucky we got to explore these sites before they were buried under drip irrigation or chicken farms." *Next listen to the podcast from BBC “A History of the World in a 100 Objects” Record any notes in the graphic organizer below