The Intention of Actions—A Cross-cultural Study on Ancient Backfilling Processes

Summary

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

During the last few decades, the study of ancient backfilling processes at prehistoric sites has aroused research interest: besides the architectural features, the surrounding layer structure came into focus. A fundamental distinction is made between natural layers and deliberately applied material. In contrast to geological erosion or debris layers, the fill consisting of very uniform and presumably carefully laid out material, is assumed to be the result of intentional human action. In this paper, this phenomenon, also known as e.g. "Temple Entombment", will be discussed based on ritual sites of the Central Andes as well as case studies from other cultural areas of prehistoric times. While on all those sites conscious backfilling processes and the active preservation of architectural structures seem to be a common feature, I will be focusing on the similarities and differences in the "intentional" backfilling of monumental structures. Specifically, the question of tracing intentionality will be addressed. How can concepts of conscious and deliberate actions be identified in archaeological contexts? Are different levels of intentional actions visible? This paper seeks to offer the formulation of some possible motives and interpretations of this practice.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

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

Keywords

Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 23911