Social Significance of the early Nasca Ceramics in the Acari Valley, Peru

Th e main purpose of this paper is to assess the social signifi cance of the early Nasca ceramics found in the Acari Valley, of the South Coast of Peru. Until recently, Nasca ceramics found in Acari have been used to argue that an early Nasca state centered at Cahuachi invaded Acari, resulting in the eventual introduction of Nasca artifacts. Far from confi rming this speculation, scholars agree that Nasca never established a centralized political authority, while recent studies in Acari show that Nasca ceramics never substituted the local pottery tradition. Th e introduction of the polychrome Nasca ceramics to the Acari Valley appear to be associated with the emergence of local elites who used foreign exotic goods to enhance personal prestige. Samples of Nasca ceramics are found in Acari, but are limited and never replaced the local style.

Key Words: Central Andes, South Coast, Early Intermediate Period, Nasca