The space between: An investigation of the changing occupied landscape at the El Brujo Archaeological Complex, Chicama Valley, Peru

Summary

Here I present the results of a systematic surface survey investigating cultural development on the geological terrace of El Brujo in the Chicama Valley, Peru. Previous research has shown that this one square kilometer space contains over 5000 years of occupation encompassing the Early Preceramic through Colonial Periods. Based on survey and excavations that include nucleated architecture, archaeologists have assumed a general northern movement of consecutive occupations, with each new group choosing to abandon the previously occupied area. I have tested this model by combining data from such previous research with the results of my systematic surface survey of the "intermediate" areas located between architectural nuclei. Through a visualization of the densities of materials and their characteristics in ArcGIS, I analyze the spatial distribution of periods of occupations and, subsequently, the types of occupation each period represents. The results of this process reflect changes in the management of space caused by the existence of prior occupations on later occupations, allowing a discussion of new issues such as the creation and continuity of "places" of particular significance.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 81st Annual Meeting, Orlando, FL (2016)

Keywords

Spatial Coverage