Wari Monumental Architecture: New State Canons of Power in Kaninkunka, Huaro, Cusco.

Summary

This is an abstract from the "New Advances in Cusco Archaeology: From the Formative to the Late Horizon" session, at the 90th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

During the Middle Horizon, two expansionist states dominated the Andes: the Wari and the Tiwanaku. So far, only Moquegua has evidence of direct interaction betweensettlers from those two states. In the Cusco region, the presence of large Wari installations have been interpreted as evidence of strong Wari influence. However, it has also been suggested that the Tiwanaku built a major pyramidal temple at Kaninkunka near Wari settlements. To verify this hypothesis, we conducted two seasons of excavations at Kaninkunka. The analysis of construction techniques, building materials and architecture, indicate that all three construction phases at the site were associated with Wari, and not Tiwanaku. Furthermore, the pottery was clearly Wari, obsidian mostly came from aWari-related source (Quispisisa), and offerings follow a Wari pattern . The Wari appear to have used this locale, which sits at the base of an important regional Apu , to celebrate important ritual ceremonies. The presence of some local material culture suggests that the Wari invited select members of local communities to participate in events organized at Kaninkunka, which could have fulfilled a diplomatic and religious role to reinforce Wari soft power in Cusco.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 90th Annual Meeting, Denver, CO (2025)   •
• New Advances in Cusco Archaeology: From the Formative to the Late Horizon

Keywords

Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 50620