MocheC14

Moche C14 Dates

This dataset provides new data on Moche C14 (Radiocarbon Dates) related to the study below (in press):

Moche chronology of ancient Peru: Bayesian assessment of radiocarbon dates and ceramic styles from north to south

Michele L. Koons, Branden Cesare Rizzuto, Lisa Trever, Alicia Boswell, Augusto Bazán Pérez, Luis A. Muro Ynoñán, Gabriel Prieto, Carlos Rengifo, Kayeleigh Sharp, Edward Swenson, Hugo Ikehara-Tsukayama, Jessica Ortiz Zevallos, Tirza Cotrina Roncal, Richard J. George, Jose M. Capriles, Fuyuki Tokanaim

Abstract. In the last decade Bayesian analysis of radiocarbon dates has become commonplace for archaeologists grappling with regional chronologies. Here we present Bayesian analysis for radiocarbon dates from Moche cultural contexts from the north coast of Peru with the aim to understand the duration of the phenomenon and to compile all known dates in a single location for future analysis and use. The analysis demonstrates that the long-standing Moche ceramic sequence does not provide a perfect proxy for tracking the timing of all social interactions. However, our results show general agreement with traditional relative Moche chronologies. Finally, our study shows that Moche was a shorter cultural phenomenon than has been previously argued, with the current data indicating that it began between the late 4th and early 6th centuries CE and lasted until the 9th century CE.

Keywords: Moche; Chronology; Radiocarbon; Bayesian; Ceramics; Andean archaeology

New Moche C14 Dates

The following dataset contains new radiocarbon dates from the Moche cultural context. This dataset is being updated periodically by Dr. Michele Koons (Anthropology Department, Denver Museum of Nature & Science).

If you have additional data and would like to contribute to this dataset, please contact Dr. Koons via email: MKoons@dmns.org