Casma–Sechin culture facts for kids
 Location in Peru
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| Location | Ancash, Peru |
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| Coordinates | 9°27′53″S 78°15′54″W / 9.46472°S 78.26500°W |
| Type | Multiple ruins in the valleys of the Casma and Sechin Rivers and on the nearby coast. |
| History | |
| Founded | c. 3500 BCE |
| Abandoned | c. 200 |
| Cultures | Casma/Sechin culture |
The Casma–Sechin culture was an ancient civilization in Peru. It existed from about 3600 BCE to 200 BCE. This culture is known for many old ruins found in the valleys of the Casma River and Sechin River. These rivers are near the Pacific Ocean coast.
Important sites include Sechin Bajo, Sechin Alto, Cerro Sechin, Mojeque, and Chankillo. Most of these sites are about 20 kilometers (12 miles) from the ocean. Some sites like Huaynuná and Las Haldas are right on the coast.
At Sechin Bajo, archaeologists found a very old carving called a frieze. It dates back to 3600 BCE. This is the oldest example of a large building structure found in the Americas. This discovery suggests the Casma–Sechin culture might be as old as, or even older than, the Caral-Supe civilization. The Caral-Supe civilization is currently thought to be the oldest in the Americas.
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What Was the Environment Like?
The coast of Peru is one of the driest deserts in the world. It gets less than 10 millimeters (0.4 inches) of rain each year. Because of this, most of the desert has almost no plants.
However, 57 small rivers flow from the Andes Mountains to the sea. These rivers create green areas called "linear oases." In these oases, people can grow crops using irrigation. The Casma and Sechin river valleys are two of these oases.
The Casma–Sechin culture lived in an area that stretched about 40 kilometers (25 miles) inland from the sea. The green, farmable parts of the valleys were narrow, from 1 to 7 kilometers (0.6 to 4 miles) wide.
Ancient Settlements in the Valleys
Many ancient ruins are found along the Sechin River valley. These include Sechin Bajo, Sechin Alto, Cerro Sechin, and Taukachi-Konkan. Chankillo and Mojeque are in the Casma River valley.
People lived in the Casma valley long before big buildings were made. The oldest sign of human life there dates back to 7600 BCE at Cerro Sechin.
The Casma and Sechin valleys could support many people. Some experts think about 14,000 to 23,000 people lived there during the culture's peak. Many people also lived on the coast. They got their food from fishing.
The Casma–Sechin culture was about 130 kilometers (80 miles) north of the Norte Chico civilization. Since they were close, it's likely they shared ideas and traditions.
How Did This Civilization Develop?
Coastal Peru is one of only six places in the world where civilization started on its own. By 3000 BCE, people in areas like Casma–Sechin were building large structures. These included pyramids and ceremonial buildings.
Early Peruvian civilizations were unique because they didn't use pottery at first. Some archaeologists believe that the rich ocean resources allowed coastal societies to thrive. They might have grown before farming with irrigation became common.
Early Discoveries and Time Periods
Some things found from the Casma–Sechin culture might be older than the Norte Chico civilization. For example, a plaza at Sechin Bajo was built around 3500 BCE. A large carving (frieze) nearby is even older, from 3600 BCE. These are the oldest examples of large buildings found in the Americas.
Lithic Period (12,000 – 3000 BCE)
The earliest human presence in the Casma–Sechin valley dates to 7600 BCE. This was found near Cerro Sechin. At Sechin Bajo, the oldest remains of big buildings were found. The "First Building" was built between 3700 BCE and 2900 BCE. It was rebuilt many times.
Since Sechin Bajo is inland, it suggests that farming was very important. Building these structures needed many people. This means there was a large group of people living there. They were organized enough to gather and manage workers. Pottery was not used during this time.
Preceramic Period (3000 – 1800 BCE)
This period saw the growth of coastal towns like Huaynuná (from 2900 BCE) and Las Haldas (from 2200 BCE). These towns were far from farmable land. So, fishing was their main way of getting food.
Inland sites also grew. Coastal towns traded fish and other sea products with inland towns. Inland towns provided farm goods. Cotton was very important for making fishing nets and lines. Gourds were used for floats and containers. People likely farmed on floodplains. Small irrigation canals were also probably used.
Initial Period (1800 – 900 BCE)
The Casma–Sechin culture became very important during this time. New technologies appeared, like woven textiles and pottery. People also started using more irrigation canals for farming. Many large pyramids and plazas were built.
Many sites, like Sechin Bajo and Cerro Sechin, were rebuilt and made bigger. The Sechin Valley had many large buildings close together. Within 5 kilometers (3 miles), there were four big ruins: Sechin Bajo, Taukachi-Konkan, Cerro Sechin, and Sechin Alto.
Sechin Alto was the biggest. It was a flat-topped pyramid, 300 by 250 meters (980 by 820 feet) wide and 35 meters (115 feet) tall. It was the largest building in the Americas when it was built around 1600 to 1400 BCE.
Because of its size and location, Sechin Alto might have been the main center of a government. This government might have ruled the valleys and coastal areas. Sechin Alto was built on valuable farmland, showing its power.
People in the Casma and Sechin Valleys grew many plants for food and other uses. However, there is no sign of maize (corn) during this period. Maize became a very important crop later.
Early Horizon (900 – 200 BCE)
During this period, the Casma and Sechin valleys were influenced by the Chavin culture from the highlands. The style of buildings, tools, and food changed. This suggests there might have been an "invasion."
Maize and animals like llamas, alpacas, and guinea pigs were brought in. People started relying less on seafood for protein. This suggests that new people came from the highlands, not from other coastal cultures.
Military themes became more common in the new building styles. The large mounds of the Initial Period were no longer built.
Chankillo is an interesting ruin from this time. Built around 350 BCE, it had a fortress, a solar observatory, and ceremonial areas. The observatory, called the Thirteen Towers of Chankillo, helped people tell the exact date by watching the sun.
Chankillo and other Casma–Sechin structures were partly destroyed around 100 BCE. They were then abandoned, likely due to a conflict.
See also
In Spanish: Cultura sechín para niños
