YUNCAN, a group of tribes of South American Indians, forming an independent linguistic stock. The Yuncas (known also as Chimus and Muchic) occupied originally the arid coastal region of northern Peru comprised within the valleys of Trujillo, Chi cama, Jequetepeque, Lambayeque and Morope ; later, by conquest, they extended the area controlled north as far as Tumbez and southward to Chancay. In the i 5th century they were conquered, after stubborn resistance, by the Incas and their territory included within the Inca empire. Their most important centre was the great city of Chan Chan (Gran Chimu), which was situated near the present Trujillo.
The Yuncas were a city-dwelling, agricultural people with highly developed agriculture, growing manioc, maize and sweet potatoes. While the houses of the poorer people were doubtless of reeds and matting or thatch, the better dwellings and all the important structures were built of sun-dried brick. The temples were stepped pyramids, raised on high platforms, and containing burial chambers within. Some of the palaces were decorated with elab orately executed stucco relief patterns in geometric style derived from textiles, and reminiscent of the stone mosaics of Mitla in Mexico. The Yuncas were wide traders along the coast, using
reed and log balsas or rafts, and constructed regular harbour works at their ports. They were expert textile makers and raised cotton for the purpose; were very skilful workers in gold, of which great amounts have been excavated by treasure-hunters; and were also makers of very fine pottery, of which three sequent styles may be distinguished. They would appear to have had a rather elaborate social and governmental organization, with kings or chiefs of considerable power. In their religion they venerated the moon more than the sun (in contrast to their Inca conquer ors), and also held sea deities in high esteem.
See M. C. Balboa, Histoire du Perou; A. de la Calancha, Cronica moralizada, etc. (Barcelona, 1638) ; E. W. Middendorff, Das Muchik oder die Chimu-Sprache (Leipzig, 1892) ; M. Uhle, "Die Ruinen von Moche," J. Soc. Americanistes de Paris, (ins.) vol. x., pp. 95-119 ; A. L. Kroeber, "The Uhle Collection from Moche," Univ. of California, Pub. Amer. Arch. Ethnot., vol. xxi., pt. 5.