Acropolis as a Mesocosm
Architecture, Landscape, and Cosmology During the Late Formative Period at Jatanca
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 8130879 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Yumi Park Huntington (Framingham State University), John Warner (0000-0002-6030-0043, Proyecto Español) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Volume | 46 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Pages | 1-22 |
| Publication date | 2026-03-02 |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Ñawpa Pacha (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0077-6297 • E-ISSN: 2051-6207 |
| Publisher | Informa UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1080/00776297.2026.2629065 |
| OpenAlex | W7133787003 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 43 |
How does architectural construction relate to the surrounding landscape and a broader cosmological framework? This paper discusses the relationships among architecture, geography, and cosmology at the site of Jatanca in the Jequetepeque Valley on the northern coast of Peru. This site was occupied mainly during the Late Formative Period (approximately 500 BCE to 100 CE) by local coastal populations who constructed several monumental architectural compounds on a relatively undifferentiated flat plain. Only one partially elevated structure exists at the site, a unique structure referred to as the Acropolis, which was the first building constructed there. We argue that the Acropolis exhibits a specific cosmological relationship with the nearby mountain Cerro Cañoncillo, creating an almanac based on alignments of solstices and equinoxes that connected the site’s inhabitants to a larger cosmic framework. The Acropolis could thus be understood as a mesocosm for its relationship to the surrounding sacred landscape and celestial bodies, functioning as a specialized meeting place between the divine and human realms. This paper discusses the rationale behind Jatanca’s geophysical arrangement and spatial considerations for its ritual practices, including an analysis of its surrounding environment.
Acropolis · Formative assessment · Period (music · Term (time · Ancient Egypt and Archaeology · Archaeology and Historical Studies · Historical and Architectural Studies
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| Highly cited | No |
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