Underwater archaeology in Lake Titicaca, Bolivia: Use of the littoral zone in the Tiwanaku period (AD 500-1150)

Summary

Since 2014, the project of underwater archaeology in Lake Titicaca (ULB), gives priority to the study of the Yampupata strait between the Island of the Sun and the Copacabana Peninsula. This research strategy was chosen because of different elements: First of all, the Island is a homogenous insular territory whose affordable dimensions (14,3 Km2) allow underwater activities. Secondly, one of the main characteristics of this territory is its dense, complex and continuous occupation which has been recorded by Archaeology. Human occupation of the Island of the Sun dates back especcialy to the (pré)Tiwanaku period (AD 300-1150), followed by the ideological reapropiation implemented by the Incas (AD 1430-1532). Finally, this insular area involves navigation and the use of the littoral zone (transit point; Westerdahl, 1992: 6). The access area to the Island of the Sun was located and excavated in 2014 (Puncu). The departure area for the island, in the continent, was located and excavated in 2016 (Ok’e Supu). In total, for an excavation area of 120 m2 (30 test pits), more than 6000 fragments of artefacts were recorded in their stratigraphic context. We propose to show a far-reaching dialogue between the scientific results from both port areas.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 82nd Annual Meeting, Vancouver, BC (2017)

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Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 15769