Lauricocha culture facts for kids
Map of the area around Lake Lauricocha
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| Geographical range | Peru |
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| Period | Andean preceramic |
| Dates | c. 10000 BCE – c. 2500 BCE |
| Type site | Lauricocha Cave |
| Preceded by | Chivateros |
| Followed by | Norte Chico |
The Lauricocha culture was an ancient group of people who lived in Peru a very long time ago. They were around for about 5,000 years, from roughly 8000 BC to 2500 BC. This time is called the "preceramic" period because people hadn't started making pottery yet.
Contents
The Lauricocha People
Early Settlers in the Andes
The history of people in Peru goes back about 15,000 years. The very first groups arrived around 13,000 BC. These early people were hunter-gatherers. They traveled from North America, through Central America, and finally settled in the Andes mountains.
Scientists have found traces of these early groups in different rock caves. Important sites include Pacaicasa, Guitarrero, and the famous Lauricocha caves. These discoveries help us understand how ancient people lived.
Discovering the Lauricocha Cave
The Lauricocha Cave was found in 1957. It is located high up in the mountains, over 4,000 meters (about 13,000 feet) above sea level. The cave is near Lake Lauricocha and the beginning of the Marañón River. This river is one of the main sources of the mighty Amazon River.
Inside the Lauricocha Cave, archaeologists found human remains. These are the oldest human bones ever discovered in Peru. They date back about 9,500 years ago, to the time of the last great ice age.
Life as Hunter-Gatherers
The early Peruvian groups were very skilled hunter-gatherers. They moved between the high mountains and the coastal areas. They followed wild animal herds and changed their locations with the seasons. This helped them find the best food sources.
Lauricocha, near Huánuco, was a very important mountain camp for these people. They were excellent at working with stone. They made sharp arrow points and fine blades for hunting and other tasks. They also created amazing cave paintings. These paintings show animals, exciting hunting scenes, and even people dancing.
Lauricocha Time Periods
The Lauricocha culture is divided into different periods, showing how their way of life changed over time:
- Lauricocha I: 8000 – 6000 BC (This is part of the Andean preceramic III period)
- Lauricocha II: 6000 – 4200 BC (This is part of the Andean preceramic IV period)
- Lauricocha III: 4200 – 2500 BC (This is part of the Andean preceramic V period)
