The Settlement Ecology of Chanka Pastoralists in the Andahuaylas Region of Southern Highland Peru

Summary

This is an abstract from the "SAA 2021: General Sessions" session, at the 86th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

This paper examines the settlement ecology of late prehistoric camelid pastoralists of the Andahuaylas region of southern highland Peru. In particular, the paper synthesizes survey based settlement data collected from the Chanka Settlement Project (PAC, 2005-2006) and Andahuaylas Puna Project (PAPA, 2018) and highlights variable settlement patterns and landscape use during the Late Intermediate Period (LIP, ~1000-1400 CE). Research results indicate that within the Andahuaylas (Chumbao) Valley, there existed a broad agropastoral spectrum, with some pastoral communities more spatially, culturally and economically distinct, while others were more closely integrated with agricultural populations and large residential sites. The paper explores potential factors (e.g., topography, abundance of resources [water], defensible terrain) which may help explain the variable settlement ecology among camelid pastoralists across the valley. Finally, the paper highlights the underappreciated adaptability and versatility of camelid pastoralists in the central Andes during the tumultuous, risk-laden LIP.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 86th Annual Meeting, Online (2021)   •
• SAA 2021: General Sessions

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Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 32712