Temple hints at origin of civilization in Peru

Findings at the archaeological complex of Ventarron, including a small Mochica temple located 4 kilometres away from the district of Pomalca in Lambayeque, were described as a "laboratory of original architecture" by Peruvian archaeologist and investigator Walter Alva.

Archaeologist Walter Alva says the site gives clues about some of 
the oldest Peruvian cultures [Credit: Siliva Depaz/Andina]

The pre-Hispanic site houses, all the architectural forms such as circular walls, curved walls, curved rectangular structures, altars for fire worship, among others.

Evidence for fire worship -the oldest tradition in America- is found at Ventarron temple, just as it was found in Caral, Kotosh, and Pirulo in the southern highlands.

This means worship was already practiced by our ancestors before gods' time, when some animals were depicted on the walls as part of nature.

"There was a time when human beings began to emerge and make very complex architecture, but they were not influenced by gods yet. After that, gods became popular in the Chavin era," he said.

Ventarron is the site of a 4,000-year old temple with painted murals, which was excavated in Peru in the Lambayeque region on the northern coast, 760 km north of Peru's capital of Lima.

The site is about 12 miles from Sipan, a religious and political centre of the later Moche culture, which flourished from AD 1 to AD 700 (about 2,000 to 1,300 years ago).

Source: Bernama [June 18, 2014]

TANN

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