600 CE: climatic and cultural transformations on the Peruvian coast

Abstract

Daniel H. Sandweiss’s research on the El Niño phenomenon constitutes a pioneering contribution to Andean archaeology and, more specifically, to Peruvian archaeology. His work, spanning over four decades, has documented the persistent impact of this climatic phenomenon along the Peruvian coast, from the earliest human settlements to the end of the colonial period. The understanding of El Niño and its integration into discussions of social dynamics in ancient Peru have significantly enriched our knowledge of these populations and raised increasingly complex analytical questions and scenarios. This article examines the cultural transformations that occurred around the 7th century CE along the northern and central coasts of Peru, from the perspective of human ecodynamics and historical ecology. In particular, it reviews the cases of the Moche, Lima, and Cañete societies, assessing the potential correlation between profound sociocultural changes and the occurrence of intense El Niño events. Additionally, it addresses the methodological complexities of interpreting a phenomenon such as El Niño within the contexts and cultures of pre-Hispanic Peru.