Stylistic Variation in Proliferous Nasca Pottery

Abstract

Although the evolution of the Nasca ceramic style throughout its 800 year history was marked by remarkable continuity and incremental modifications, there were two time periods when there were bursts of rapid innovation and change. The first of these was in Phase 5 when the first proliferous elements were introduced into the style. As defined by Roark (1965:2) "....in the Proliferous substyle the proportion of geometric designs is greater, and representational themes often include abstract elements as part of the design. Large numbers of rays and tassels are appended to many of the designs, particularly those depicting mythical subjects, producing an impression of almost infinitely multiplied elements...". Mary Blagg (1975) went on to discuss further the introduction of bizarre themes in Nasca Phase 5 and suggests that initially, three contemporaneous "substyles" existed: a conservative substyle that maintained the strongest continuity with the past by depicting gradual changes in form and design; a progressive sub-style which sees proliferous elements added to the traditional themes; and a bizarre sub-style which is marked by the introduction of radical new motifs and changes in the formal canons of style. Blagg argued against outside influence as a factor in the bizarre innovation of

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