MAJOR PUBLIC PYRAMIDAL BUILDING C1, “MAIN PYRAMIDAL BUILDING”

from Urban centers of Caral Civilization: 21 years recovering history on the Social System

BIBLIOGRAPHY

It is located on the West end of the upper half. It forms an architectonic complex with the monumental platform and sunken circular plaza made of stone (C2 sector), as well as the Minor Public Pyramidal Building C3.

It is a stepped pyramidal building, of quadrangular plan with central staircase that connected the low monumental platform with the top of the building, where there was a ceremonial room and other important enclosures. Due to the land topography, the building’s eastern façade is 17.54 m high, and the southern façade is 24 m high.

The building was periodically remodeled; first they built the rooms on the top with quincha walls, and in the last period with stonewalls.

At the beginning their builders connected the monumental platform with a sunken circular plaza; in the late periods they destroyed and covered such plaza, and then connected the platform with the public pyramidal building.

Urban Role

In the urban design and layout, public buildings of the upper half were oriented towards the main plaza.

The Main Public Pyramidal Building C1 was located in the space between two main streets or avenues used to access the core area of the Caral Urban Center; its operators had visual control of people entering the city, from the coastline or the lower part of the valley.

SIZE

Height: 17.54 m - 24 m

N-S: 100.54 m

E-W: 72.86 m

Surface: 7,325 m2

Detail of a room on the top of Building C1, quincha wall and adobe wall with niches.

Use

Due to the architectonic features of the rooms on the top and the context, we infer that public, ceremonial and administrative activities were conducted. The main activities were conducted in the main rooms at the top, and complementary activities were carried out in the rooms next to it.

Building Technique

The recorded early period corresponds to a pyramidal building with stepped platforms with walls made of cut stone masonry, organized in irregular courses. On top of the building they built a ceremonial room and secondary rooms with quincha walls, with a central fire pit and lateral benches. They used gray clay as mortar and beige and yellow clay for the plastering.

In the last period they completely covered the former building with deposits of shicras, sharp rocks, pebbles, dirt and waste. Over it, they built a new central staircase and platforms, using cut stone blocks in different sizes, which they placed in irregular patterns. On the top they built a ceremonial room and a rear room, using thick quincha walls, flanked by other rooms. Inside these rooms, they built benches and fire pits. Some walls with niches were made of adobe. These rooms allowed access to a great rear hall built with stonewalls, surrounded by other rooms. In this period the building was plastered with beige and yellow clay.