Under the direction of Dr. Catharina Schreiber, Mr. Brian Billman will collect archaeological data as part of his doctoral dissertation research. He will conduct survey and excavation in the Upper Moche Valley which is located in the northern coastal region of Peru. The Moche Valley is well known to archaeologists because in its later prehistoric period it contained "cities" with large scale temple architecture and other attributes characteristic of civilization. Mr. Billman wishes to understand how this complexity developed, and will focus on the preceeding periods where the roots of this process must lie. His plan of research includes three stages. Using aerial photographs as a guide he will locate Initial Period (1800-900 B.C.) and Early Period (900-200 B.C.) sites. These can be dated on the basis of associated ceramics. These will then be mapped and surface collected. The second stage consists of excavation of middens associated with individual dwellings. Finally, he will conduct laboratory analysis of artifactual, floral, and faunal remains. Archaeologists have proposed several theories about how complex stratified societies arise. Some believe that the causes are external and such factors as the need to join large numbers of people together for common goals demands the emergence of a hierarchy. One example is the need to dig and maintain large scale irrigation canals. Others believe that the driving force is internal, that individuals compete for status and develop mechanisms to reinforce emergent status differences. The Moche Valley provides an excellent opportunity to examine this issue because crops were irrigated in this desert region and the scale of irrigation was different in the upper and lower portions of the valley. Because the lower valley region has been well studied, it provides an excellent comparative sample for Mr. Billman's upper valley data. This research is important for several reasons. It will help archaeologists understand how complex societies such as our own originally developed and were maintained. Since in many parts of the world people still live at a Moche level of organization information of more direct relevance may also emerge. Finally, this project will assist in the training of an extremely promising young scientist.
