Material Culture in Pambamarca Ecuador: Comparing Finds from Two Inkan Fortresses

Summary

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

As the Inka expanded north at the end of the 15th century, they were met with fierce resistance from the País Caranqui societies in Northern Ecuador. A prolonged standoff occurred, visible in the plethora of fortresses along the northern frontier. Excavations completed by the Pambamarca Archaeology Project north of Quito at three Inka fortresses within the Pambamarca Fortress Complex (Pi10 [Quitoloma], Pi20 [Censo Pucara], and Pi23 [Campana Pucara]), indicate these sites were constructed quickly, were occupied, and "battle ready". Material remains recovered consist largely of groundstone weaponry and ceramics, which this poster will focus on. Excavations at Pi10 and Pi23 were placed in residential and "elite" living areas, and analysis will show if these areas are as distinct materially as they are spatially, as well as determine if there is artifact homogeneity between the two forts. Preliminary analysis shows one site's ceramics contained higher amounts of decorated wares, Inka imperial forms, and local exotic forms than the other, even though it was smaller, closer to enemy territory, and showed signs of being attacked. The hope is that studying the material remains can help us understand the occupants of these sites and how they are related to each other.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

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

Keywords

Spatial Coverage

Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 25260