The Early Chiripa Phase is the earliest of the three Chiripa phases defined by Steadman ([Steadman 1999]). Based on the Taraco Archaeological Project's work, this phase has been dated to approximately 1500 - 1000 B.C. (see [Whitehead 1999] for dating of the Chiripa phases). Ceramics of the Early Chiripa phase are mostly dark in color and tend to be unslipped. Wiped finishes are more common in this phase than later, when burnishes predominate. 100% of the sherds from this phase are fiber-tempered, though the fiber seems to be chopped finer than it is in later periods. Micaceous pastes predominate. The most common forms are the short-necked olla and the neckless olla - the latter being unique to this phase.
There are certain similarities between Early Chiripa ceramics as defined here and the ceramics of Browman's Condori phase. Among these we may number the use of micaceous temper, the presence of the distinctive neckless olla - or olla sin cuello, see Figure 5.1 - vessel form, and the frequent occurrence of interior and exterior rim thickening ([Browman 1980]). It seems likely that, despite some differences, Steadman's Early Chiripa and Browman's Condori are describing similar and probably related assemblages.
It should be made clear at this point that the Early Chiripa of Karen Mohr Chávez ([Chávez 1988]) is absolutely unrelated to the Early Chiripa phase as employed here. Early, Middle and Late Chiripa were used by Chávez to describe the ceramics ([Mohr 1966]) from Kidder's Sub-Lower House Level, Lower House Level, and Upper House Level ([Kidder 1956], see also [Bandy 1999a]), respectively. From recent excavations in the Chiripa mound ([Bandy 1999b]), we know that the Lower House Level corresponds to the earlier part of Steadman's Late Chiripa. Therefore, Chávez's Early Chiripa is probably contemporary with Steadman's Middle or even Late Chiripa. When I use Early Chiripa in this discussion I am referring to the phase as defined by Steadman.
