Chavin and the Origins of Andean Civilization

by Richard L. Burger

South America's oldest complex society arose during the first millennium BC in the mountains at Chavin de Huántar, and the Chavin style was to dominate Peruvian art and architecture for hundreds of years and influence all that came after. In the first detailed up-to-date treatment of Chavin, Professor Burger pays special attention to the unique character of early Andean civilization and the distinctive processes responsible for its development, arguing that Chavin civilization represents a synthesis of earlier traditions, forged through the impact of long-distance trade and a new religious ideology.

Genres: History, Archaeology, The Americas, Nonfiction

Paperback

First published November 1, 1992

Reviews

[Jess]

Ugh, I'm going to call this DNF at chapter 4. The topic is interesting but the writing is full-on academic and I'm just reading this out of personal interest not because I'm required to. (And if that's not a telling statement about the kind of writing fostered in the academe, I don't know what is. But that's a structural problem and I hesitate to apply a star rating to an individual author because of it.)

Also, I'm more interested in stories than in minute details about architecture and archaeology. So... setting this aside and picking up Cochineal Red: Travels through Ancient Peru instead.

[Benjamin Bookman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very dry academic text. Some of the images are well explained and helpful, but not all. I am not sure how much I am actually going retain, despite taking my time and reading slowly. There were a ton of details presented, but in a way that made it very hard to actually imagine. In other words, what did the people actually do? How did they live? If there is enough physical evidence to describe religious artifacts and food remnants and irrigation systems, that data can be presented in a way that helps the reader understand those systems (not numbers, I needed explanation). There were a lot of words and facts. But not much being said.