Variation in Holocene El Niño frequencies: Climate records and cultural consequences in ancient Peru

Abstract

Research Article| July 01, 2001 Variation in Holocene El Niño frequencies: Climate records and cultural consequences in ancient Peru Daniel H. Sandweiss; Daniel H. Sandweiss 1Department of Anthropology and Institute for Quaternary Studies, South Stevens Hall, University of Maine, Orono, Maine 04469, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Kirk A. Maasch; Kirk A. Maasch 2Department of Geological Sciences and Institute for Quaternary Studies, Bryand Global Sciences Center, University of Maine, Orono, Maine 04469, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Richard L. Burger; Richard L. Burger 3Peabody Museum of Natural History and Department of Anthropology, 170 Whitney Avenue, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06520, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar James B. Richardson, III; James B. Richardson, III 4Section of Anthropology, O'Neil Research Center, Carnegie Museum of Natural History, 5800 Baum Boulevard, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15206, USA, and Department of Anthropology, Posvar Hall, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Harold B. Rollins; Harold B. Rollins 5Department of Geology and Planetary Science, Old Engineering Hall, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Amy Clement Amy Clement 6Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, 4600 Rickenbacker Causeway, Miami, Florida 33149, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Daniel H. Sandweiss 1Department of Anthropology and Institute for Quaternary Studies, South Stevens Hall, University of Maine, Orono, Maine 04469, USA Kirk A. Maasch 2Department of Geological Sciences and Institute for Quaternary Studies, Bryand Global Sciences Center, University of Maine, Orono, Maine 04469, USA Richard L. Burger 3Peabody Museum of Natural History and Department of Anthropology, 170 Whitney Avenue, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06520, USA James B. Richardson, III 4Section of Anthropology, O'Neil Research Center, Carnegie Museum of Natural History, 5800 Baum Boulevard, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15206, USA, and Department of Anthropology, Posvar Hall, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260, USA Harold B. Rollins 5Department of Geology and Planetary Science, Old Engineering Hall, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260, USA Amy Clement 6Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, 4600 Rickenbacker Causeway, Miami, Florida 33149, USA Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 30 Oct 2000 Revision Received: 16 Mar 2001 Accepted: 29 Mar 2001 First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 Geological Society of America Geology (2001) 29 (7): 603–606. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(2001)029<0603:VIHENO>2.0.CO;2 Article history Received: 30 Oct 2000 Revision Received: 16 Mar 2001 Accepted: 29 Mar 2001 First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation Daniel H. Sandweiss, Kirk A. Maasch, Richard L. Burger, James B. Richardson, Harold B. Rollins, Amy Clement; Variation in Holocene El Niño frequencies: Climate records and cultural consequences in ancient Peru. Geology 2001;; 29 (7): 603–606. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(2001)029<0603:VIHENO>2.0.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract Analysis of mollusks from archaeological sites on the north and central coasts of Peru indicates that between ca. 5800 and 3200–2800 cal yr B.P., El Niño events were less frequent than today, with modern, rapid recurrence intervals achieved only after that time. For several millennia prior to 5.8 ka, El Niño events had been absent or very different from today. The phenomena called El Niño have had severe consequences for the modern and colonial (historically recorded) inhabitants of Peru, and El Niño events also influenced prehistoric cultural development: the onset of El Niño events at 5.8 ka correlates temporally with the beginning of monumental temple construction on the Peruvian coast, and the increase in El Niño frequency after 3.2–2.8 ka correlates with the abandonment of monumental temples in the same region. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.