Lines to the Mountains: Investigations of LIP and LH Carangas Settlement Patterns and Geoglyphs

Summary

This is an abstract from the "SAA 2024: Individual Abstracts" session, at the 89th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

The Carangas, primarily located in modern day Bolivia, were a Late Intermediate Period (LIP) group often associated with highland pastoralism and broader LIP traditions. They are also known for a series of colored adobe chullpas in the Rio Lauca basin and a network of linear geoglyphs called the Sajama lines which cover over 20,000 square kilometers. They have been compared to groups in the Lake Titicaca Basin, the neighboring Pacajes, and other Aymara groups in terms of use of pukaras and chullpas. However, the Carangas have been understudied until relatively recently and these comparisons might not best reflect the emerging data.

This poster presents preliminary data on the highland Carangas settlement patterns with a focus on pukaras. Using data collected during pedestrian survey and review of satellite imagery, we examine the use of 62 pukara sites by the Carangas to assess the variety of roles that these places would have fulfilled from defense to ritual. We also examine evidence of field systems, routes, Sajama lines, and outlying settlements to assess site hierarchy and the role of hilltop fortifications.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• SAA 2024: Individual Abstracts   •
• Society for American Archaeology 89th Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA (2024)

Keywords

Spatial Coverage

Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 39388.0