NO. 1 CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT IN LATIN AMERICA 111 
a kind of testing ground or foundation for the cultural florescence 
reached in the middle and late periods in northwestern Argentina. A 
third influence came from Chile about the time of Molle II. As men- 
tioned earlier, Molle II shows a number of Central Andean traits that 
do not occur in the neighboring regions and probably were introduced 
from the north by sea. Polychrome pottery may have entered north- 
western Argentina from this direction, replacing an earlier decora- 
tive complex that made use of one or two colors of paint but was in- 
ferior in quality. Alternatively, this tradition could have been diffused 
from the north, since cultures with comparable features occur in Bo- 
livia, It is an interesting and somewhat anomalous situation that a 
strong early polychrome tradition should exist so far to the south. 
The earliest complexes in northwestern Argentina, part of Chile 
(except Molle II), and southern Bolivia lack many of the basic ele- 
ments used to define the Formative Period in Nuclear America. 
Among these missing elements are the bridge handle, stirrup spout, 
rocker stamping, negative painting, zoned decoration, and excision. 
By contrast, characteristic ceramic features include a tall jar with a 
half-ring handle, and simple vessel forms with conical bases and no 
decoration. Among important nonceramic elements are rectangular 
spindle whorls, grooved axes, pipes, and the relatively early occur- 
rence of metallurgy. It is probable that this early complex was asso- 
ciated with the cultivation of quinoa and potatoes. This situation raises 
the question as to whether differences within the Formative are not 
sufficiently great to require a redefinition of the present concept of the 
period. The problem is particularly evident when Molle I, Tafi and 
Cienaga are compared with Molle II. The latter possesses some of the 
typical elements of the Formative, as it is at present defined. The 
others are quite different, as a result of different origins. Neverthe- 
less, there is every indication that Molle II is later than Molle I and 
Tafi, in spite of the fact that it possesses the largest number of char- 
acteristically Formative traits. 
Some of the patterns of introduction and loss of traits are surpris- 
ingly uniform over the entire area including both northwestern Argen- 
tina and Chile. An example is the pipe, which is common in the Early 
Ceramic Period, but disappears suddenly and completely in the Mid- 
dle or Late Ceramic Period. In northwestern Argentina it is present in 
Tafi, Cienaga, and Condorhuasi, but disappears after Aguada. In the 
Valles Transversales it is very common in Molle I but absent in Molle 
II. 
Middle Ceramic Period. — The Middle Ceramic Period is charac- 
terized by a number of cultural changes, which produce a situation 
