MITO ARCHITECTURE AT KOTOSH AND LA GALGADA
Mito phase architecture at the site of Kotosh, in the northern Peruvian highlands, displays consistent characteristics. These rooms are rectangular, with benches along the perimeter, a single entrance, wall niches, and a central fire pit. The best known structure at the site of Kotosh is the Temple of the Crossed Hands, which has two reliefs, each one under a niche, showing one hand over another. The organization of the space within these rooms indicates that small groups of people could congregate in these structures, everyone having equal access to the central fire pit.
La Galgada, Tablachaca Valley, Peru.
The preceramic site of La Galgada, in the Tablachaca valley, also has structures in the Kotosh tradition. However, most rooms at La Galgada have rounded corners, as opposed to the clear right angles at the site of Kotosh. Terence Grieder and Alberto Bueno excavated rooms at La Galdada that had been used for religious burning rituals initially, but were later used for burials. Once the function of these rooms changed and these fire pit rooms became burial chambers, a new Kotosh-style structure with a fire pit was built over the earlier structure.
At La Galgada, there were remains of chili peppers in the fire pits, along with shells and other objects. Burning chili peppers in a closed room would have created a very uncomfortable environment, perhaps making people sweat or shed tears. This is reminiscent of the use of sweat lodges in North America, where people put their bodies through stress for purification ceremonies.
Although we will never know the exact nature of the burning events involving the fire pits at these Kotos-style sites, it is interesting to compare these burning/offering actions to current Andean practices. In the Andes people often make pagos or “payments” to the earth by pouring liquids or placing objects on the earth’s surface. One can imagine people sitting in these rooms at La Galgada or Kotosh, placing their offerings in the fire pits to burn them, essentially making “payments” to the earth or feeding the earth. Another interesting element to consider is the possible interaction between the people involved in the burning ceremonies and the burials located beneath these rooms. People may have been interacting with their ancestors by making offerings directly to them as well through the burning in the fire pits.