11 101 X The temple complex at Chavin de Huantar was the largest Chavin religious complex and the centre of the Chavin cult, from around 850 to 200 BC. Laid out in an elaborate version of the traditional U-shaped ceremonial complex of mounds and plaza, it was the culmination of a long-lived religious tradition.
#Chavin de Huantar
1 101 X A system of canals runs through the temple structures, carrying water from the adjacent river. Passing through the large platform and under the Circular Plaza, they would have created an awe-inspiring roaring sound inside the galleries. The canals also drained away surface water in the rainy season, protecting the vulnerable earthen structures of the complex.
#Canals
2 101 X The seemingly solid mounds of the Old Temple were in fact riddled with interconnecting galleries and chambers, built of stone. Their maze-like arrangement may have been designed to confuse visitors, enhancing the sense of mystery
#Galleries
3 102 A The Gallery of Offerings within the Old Temple contained many beautiful objects, such as this decorated bottle. In all there were some 800 pottery vessels, which had originally contained offerings of food and beer. Mixed in with them were many human bones, broken and burnt - possibly the remains of ritual cannibalism.
#The Gallery of Offerings, decorated bottle
4 101 X The Old Temple was a small U-shaped platform set round a square containing a sunken circular plaza. The external walls of the platform were built of huge stone slabs, with a series of granite slabs laid against them. These slabs were decorated with carvings of supernatural birds.
#The Old Temple, Old Temple
5 101 X A frieze of heads decorates the upper walls of the Old Temple. These appear, from the way they are placed, as unsupported severed heads, recalling the trophy heads that are a frequent motif in Peruvian religious art. Both humans and animals are represented, generally with divine attributes such as fangs.
#Carved heads, Carved head with fangs
6 101 X The Circular Plaza is 70 ft (21 m) in diameter and 8 ft (2.5 m) deep. A series of stone staircases led down into it. The walls of this sunken court were faced with finely cut stone slabs, decorated with a procession of jaguars and mythical creatures. The plaza could accommodate up to 550 people.
#The Circular Plaza, Detail of interior of circular plaza showing sculptured stones
7 101 X The New Temple substantially enlarged the ceremonial centre, enriching it with a mass of new sculpture. The enlarged complex again took the traditional U-shaped form. One of its principal features was an enormous sunken plaza capable of accommodating 1,500 people.
#The New Temple, Façade of New Temple
8 102 C The Black and White Portal was a staircase in black limestone and white porphyry (a very hard stone containing felspar), flanked by a portal with carved columns. These carvings are highly stylized and represent a later development of the style seen in the Chavin Lanzon; this later style also appears on the monolith known as the Raimondi stone, which is decorated with an elaborate image of the supreme deity.
#The Black and White Portal, Raimondi stone
9 101 X Surrounding the ceremonial centre was a large settlement, its houses dispersed over a wide area which was terraced in places to accommodate them. At its height the settlement probably housed around 3,000 people. Craft activities took place within the settlement. The remains of feasts at which guinea pigs were eaten have also been found.
#Town
10 0 47 1
#IW The Chavin Lanzon
-1 101 Z The temple complex at Chavin de Huantar was the largest Chavin religious complex and the centre of the Chavin cult, from around 850 to 200 BC. Laid out in an elaborate version of the traditional U-shaped ceremonial complex of mounds and plaza, it was the culmination of a long-lived religious tradition.
