Wari Soft Power in Middle Horizon Cusco: A Bottom-Up View

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.

Many scholars have suggested that Wari architecture outside the Ayacucho heartland was a sign of direct imperial administration. This view assumes deep political impact on local populations, with shifting allegiances, a profound reorganization of how groups interacted with one another, and changing values about what was desirable, prestigious, and powerful. Following this argument, many have proposed that the Cusco region, with its typical Wari architecture, saw significant changes in local politics upon Wari arrival. To verify hypotheses about Wari political power and impact in Cusco, this paper evaluates whether Wari presence altered local dynamics and shifted regional alliances, and examines how (and if) Wari colonists contributed to increasing social inequality in the region. We examine continuity and change in regional hierarchies, elite displays of status, and feasting through time. While the evidence suggests that Wari hard power—military and economic—was minimal in the Cusco region outside the area immediately surrounding the Wari settlements, Wari appears to have enjoyed some level of soft power. However, instead of imposing changes or bringing novel ideas to Cusco, Wari colonists intensified political processes that had already developed locally prior to the Middle Horizon.

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): 50612