| Geographical range | Huánuco,  Peru |
|---|---|
| Period | Initial Period |
| Dates | c. 1,800 – 900 BCE |
| Type site | Kotosh |
| Preceded by | Norte Chico |
| Followed by | Chavin |
The Kotosh Religious Tradition is a term used by archaeologists to refer to the ritual buildings that were constructed in the mountain drainages of the Peruvian Andes between circa 3000 and c. 1800 BCE, during the Andean preceramic, or Late Archaic period of Andean history.[1]
Archaeologists have identified and excavated a number of these ritual centers; the first of these to be discovered was that at Kotosh, although since then further examples have been found at Shillacoto, Wairajirca, Huaricoto, La Galgada, Piruru,[2] among others. These sites are all located in highland zones that are lower than the Puna, and yet there are considerable distances separating them. In spite of this, all these cases of highland preceramic public architecture are remarkably similar.[3]
Kotosh tradition shows numerous links with the Chavín culture that emerged at most of these sites subsequently.
- ^ Moseley 2001. p. 109.
- ^ Burger 1992. p. 45.
- ^ Art and Archaeology of Ancient Peru Archived 2015-04-23 at archive.today utexas.edu