Most humans today live in hierarchical societies, but most of human history was lived in a relatively egalitarian condition. Twenty-five years of archaeological research in the Peruvian Andes at the World Heritage site of Chavín de Huántar show that authority-driven organization first emerged in the context of spectacular religious ritual conducted for emerging elites in impressive temples using light, sound, and psychoactive substances to create a new concept of human society.
John Rick, associate professor of anthropology, emeritus
Professor Rick fell in love with archaeology at the age of six while tagging along with his parents on a plant-hunting expedition to South America. His explorations of desert mud-brick cities and visits to sites such as Machu Picchu were catalysts for his lifelong archaeological career, which extends to Stanford alumni, as he’s led many Travel/Study trips over the years. He currently directs a major research project exploring the foundations of authority in the central Andes at the monumental UNESCO World Heritage site of Chavín de Huántar.