Scaling New Heights: Recent Advances in Andean Zooarchaeology

This collection contains the abstracts of the papers presented in the session entitled "Scaling New Heights: Recent Advances in Andean Zooarchaeology" at the 90th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

Zooarchaeolgy in the Andes investigates the relationship between ecozones that criss-cross extreme elevation differences of the region. The subfield of Andean zooarchaeology has been steadily increasing in recent decades, strengthening understanding of human-animal interactions, animal domestication, environmental adaptations, and socio-cultural developments in diverse ecological zones with rich cultural history. This session seeks to highlight the substantial contributions of Andean zooarchaeology, illustrating how studies from this region have advanced not only broader zooarchaeological methodologies, but archaeological practice as a whole. The session aims to foster a dialogue between senior and junior researchers specializing in Andean zooarchaeology. By bringing together recent findings and ongoing research projects, we hope to underscore the pivotal role of Andean zooarchaeology in shaping contemporary zooarchaeological practice. Participants are invited to present case studies, theoretical discussions, and methodological advancements. This session will not only summarize the achievements of past and current research but also explore future directions for integrating Andean zooarchaeological data into the global framework.