Archaeological Identifiers of Cultural Affiliation: The Case of the Middle Horizon(?) Site of Sonay, Peru

Summary

This is an abstract from the "SAA 2019: General Sessions" session, at the 84th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

The site of Sonay in the Camana Valley of southern coastal Peru was originally identified as a Wari-affiliated site, based on the close architectural similarities of its major structure to other Wari imperial sites. The two original radiocarbon dates from below the structure suggested an occupation at the very end of the Middle Horizon, long after it is thought influence from major Wari centers had disappeared. The lack of diagnostic ceramics confused the original interpretations, though the limited excavations were thought to be the cause of this issue. A later date for the structure, also from beneath the floor, suggested a Late Intermediate Period date. This paper will consider the problem of dating sites on architectural versus radiometric means, and come to a resolution of when this site was actually occupied, and by whom.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 84th Annual Meeting, Albuquerque, NM (2019)

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Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 23575