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Chimú Ceramic Production and Trade

Type Event Region South America Time 1200–1470

Around 1404 CE, the Chimú Empire established a highly specialized black pottery production system on Peru's north coast, mass-producing figure, anima…

Timeline

  1. 1400–1404Chan Chan · PeruDedicated ceramic production areas existed within the ciudadelas of Chan Chan, where artisans used molds to mass-produce black ware vessels depicting figures, birds and animals, and navigation and sacrificial scenes, reflecting the Chimú crown's centralized control over craft production.
  2. 1404–1450North coast of Peru trade corridor · PeruChimú pottery spread north along valleys such as Moche and Lambayeque to the Ecuadorian border and south to the central coast; together with metalwork, textiles, and marine products, it formed the main commodity mix of Chimú long-distance trade, with Chimú-style sherds commonly found at archaeological sites.

Sources