Bioarchaeology of the Chincha Kingdom: Life history patterns in a chullpa population from the Late Intermediate Period and Late Horizon mid-Chincha Valley, Peru

Summary

This paper considers evidence for population health and lifestyle in the Chincha polity during the Late Intermediate Period (LIP) (c. 1000-1400 AD) and Late Horizon (LH) (c. 1400-1532 AD). Beginning with the Chroniclers, scholars have described the Chincha as a large complex society with population organized into distinct economic sectors (e.g., coastal fishermen, merchant core, and inland agriculturalists). Previous archaeological studies have demonstrated evidence for fishermen and artisans in the lower valley, but no evidence for life outside of the lower valley has been considered. Following an upper valley archaeological survey and previous demographic study on human remains, a bioarchaeological survey of a looted communal tomb in the mid-Chincha Valley provides a first glimpse into health status among populations outside previously studied areas. We identified over 115 individuals of all age and sex groups and collected data on health status and trauma in that population. Here, we compare our evidence to regional trends and consider evidence for workload within the context of horizontal social organization among the Chincha. Future work will further explore lifestyle dynamics in the mid- and upper-valley and seek to interpret the role of these populations in the larger social and economic structure of the Chincha Kingdom.

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This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 80th Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA (2015)   •
• Archaeological Research in the Chincha Valley, Southern Peru

Keywords

Spatial Coverage