Archaeological excavations at Amato, a site established at the beginning of the Early Intermediate period (circa 50 BC – 300 AD) in the Acari Valley of the Peruvian south coast, uncovered two isolated human heads from different contexts. One head was found near an area where dozens intentionally decapitated skeletons were recovered. The second head was located in association with the main wall that encloses the site. Both heads were buried in similar fashion to Early Intermediate period south coast trophy heads; however, these heads from Amato were not culturally modified (e.g. perforated frontal bone and/or artificially enlarged foramen magnum). These two isolated heads demonstrate that not all human decapitation in the Acari Valley was for the purposes of securing trophy heads. Based on these findings, we suggest that the purpose and motivation for human decapitation and head-taking ...

This paper is aimed to assess the situation of the Ayacucho Valley of the Peruvian central highlands before and during the lnka occupation. Until very recently, it was argued that this valley was largely abandoned during lnka times and consequently played no role within the lnka Empire. Because of new fieldwork carried out on the northern portion of the va/ley, it is becoming evident that in the region there were severa[ importantlnka period sites. Before the lnka conquest, the inhabitants ofthe region occupied sites established in defensive positions and often at higher elevation. Following lnka conquest, most ofthese sites were relocated to lower elevations. At the same time, the Local pre-lnka pottery style survived and continued being manufactured during lnka times, as its occurrence at both defensive sites and low elevation sites indicates. lnka related artifacts, however, are prese...

In this paper I discuss the function of the pottery assemblage uncovered from the Wari site of Marayniyoq, in the Ayacucho Valley, of the central highlands of Peru. Using the ethnographic example as a model to define the function of pottery vessels, this study indicates that the large pottery vessels found at Marayniyoq were originally manufactured to store and transport beverages. Once broken, most of these large vessels were restored and reused. At this stage, the vessels were no longer used for the original purpose, but instead as storage vessels. Because at the site there is grinding equipment that suggests that grinding was also an important activity, it is apparent that the restores vessel were used to store grains that perhaps were used in fermented beverages such as chicha. Consequently, at Marayniyoq we have a clear evidence for the reuse of large pottery vessels. Because during...

On the basis of recent archaeological research, the author discusses the Early Intermediare Period occupation of Acad valley. The study is oriented to verify whether occurred a nasca conquest and occupation of Acarí. The postery study indicates the presence of a local tradicion, at which context Early Nasca ceramics were introduced

In this article we present the results of the analysis of the ceramic assemblage coming from Tambo Viejo, the single most important Inca establishment in the Acari Valley. Among others, this study reveals that at the time of the Inca conquest of Acari, there was a local ceramic style that already received some influence from the valleys found immediately to the north. With the Inca presence, the local style continued recei-ving northern influences, but also began incorporating new decorative elements, this time of Inca origins. Selected and previously modified Inca designs were incorporated. This evidence indicates that the Inca conquest of Acari did not represent the end of the local style; on the contrary, the local style survived to the point that Inca ceramics are rare in Tambo Viejo. This is more likely the result of the pacific incorpora-tion of Acari to Inca dominium. At the same ...

Archaeological research carried out in the Acarí Valley enables us discussing the dynamics of the early occupations in this valley regarded as the southern boundary of the archaeological-cultural region known as the Peruvian south coast. The foundation of the complex cultural development of Acarí can be found at the Hacha site that belongs to the Initial Period. Material evidence and several radiocarbon dates indicate that Hacha was occupied for a long time, from as early as 3398 to 2737 cal BP. Subsequently, new human settlements seem to have been established in the vicinity of Hacha, following which the site was finally abandoned. At the same time, new settlements were established in other parts of the valley and became the foundation for a series of large settlements that flourished during the early phases of the Early Intermediate Period. Starting with Hacha, the pottery developed ...

The manner the urban center of Huari of the Peruvian central highlands was established is an important topic. However, the issue remains little discussed. Taking into consideration information gathered from a huarpa settlement that existed in what eventually became the periphery of Huari, we discuss the way Huari achieved a great transformation late during the Early Intermediate Period and early during the Middle Horizon. The evidence suggests that at the end of the Early Intermediate Period a series of huarpa settlements were deserted in what appears to be a very conflictive situation. The former inhabitants of the rural huarpa villages found their way into much larger and better protected settlements. In this manner, a considerable number of huarpa settlements, that were viable for centuries, were deserted as their inhabitants moved specific centers such as Huari.

South American camelids played key roles within the Inca empire. In addition of providing primary products, such as meat and hide, they were important sources of wool, fuel, and fertilizer, while llamas were also valued as beasts of burden. Moreover, ethnohistorical accounts indicate that on occasion of the ritual celebrations organized by the state, young male camelids were regularly slaughtered in the hundreds. The reports further indicate that some of the sacrificed animals were burned, and their ashes thrown ceremoniously into a river, while others were distributed and consumed during the same public ceremonies. Recent archaeological research carried out at the Inca provincial center of Tambo Viejo of the Acari Valley resulted in the finding of an excellent collection of camelid bones; its analysis demonstrates that the bones and their respective epiphyses were about to fuse or had j...

Scientific inquiry is governed by acceptable procedures as well as the use of accepted categories and terminologies and their proper use. Archaeological research is no different from any other scientific research; as such, it must be carried out following the same rules of all scientific analysis. The proper use of terminologies related to time and space is fundamental, starting from the principle that our task is to explain the cultural process in relation to the time facto – chronology.

In Peru, we have the privilege of having an enormous wealth of archaeological monuments that are scattered throughout the country. However, over time we have not managed how to make an effective use of this wealth, much less how to preserve it for future generations. Instead, we are passive observers of how archaeological monuments remains forgotten and neglected or are in effect swept away under the pretext of “development” and “progress.” Our unwritten history disappears before our eyes, and we have no will to even stop the destruction. The history of the archaeological site of Tambo Viejo in the Acari Valley that I discuss here is possibly also the history of many other archaeological monuments. With the reflection presented here, perhaps, it is possible to begin to reconsider and look for solutions that allow archaeological sites to be safeguarded. I am convinced that we can ...

En este trabajo se dan a conocer los resultados de las excavaciones efectuadas en Marayniyoq, un centro especializado wari del valle de Ayacucho. El descubrimiento de una serie de batanes y sus respectivas moliendas indican que éste fue un establecimiento destinado al procesamiento de granos, como el maíz. Puesto que estos batanes consisten en grandes bloques de piedra labrada, queda también manifiesto que se invirtió una enorme actividad humana en su preparación, traslado y construcción final. A su vez, la presencia de vasijas y evidencias adicionales tienden a sugerir que la función de Marayniyoq se relacionaba con el procesamiento de maíz y la producción de chicha.

En el presente ensayo se evalúa la clasificación estilística de lo que se conoce como cerámica "chanka". Sobre la base de recientes descubrimientos, se postula que la cerámica chanka, en particular sus variedades alfareras Arqalla y Aya Orqo, no es una manifestación exclusivamente preinka. Las evidencias provenientes de Qaqas, discutidas en este ensayo, sugieren que la tradición alfarera local preinka continuó manufacturándose durante el tiempo de auge del Imperio Inka. El Estado Inka, por lo tanto, parece no haber alterado mucho a la tradición local y las poblaciones locales parecen haber seguido habitando en el valle de Ayacucho, por lo menos en su sector norte.

The Inka State built enormous dispersed warehouses throughout their empire in order to store all types of goods. These facilities were built in clusters, usually atop mountain summits, and seem to suggest that Inka storage systems were always of enormous size. Yet recent archaeological research suggests that smaller scale warehouses, different from those found in the Peruvian highlands, were also erected on the coastlands. This paper examines the cists of Tambo Viejo semisubterranean facilities of varying shape that were also used as storehouses, as follows from the discovery made inside them of items such as maize kernels and coca leaves. This find shows that other forms of storage that probably preceded the development of the State were in place during the Inka expansion on the southern coast of Peru. Just like in the highlands, these forms of storage took advantage of coast’s enviro...

In this article we present the results of the archaeological studies carried out at the Inca administrative center of Tambo Viejo, the only facility of its character built by the Inca in the Acari Valley of the Peruvian south coast region. This study reveals, among others, the architectural complexity of the site and its enormous size. Likewise, this study demonstrates that Tambo Viejo has a long sequence of human occupation that began early in the Early Intermediate period and continued to colonial times. In this paper we evaluate the Inca ocupation of the site, taking into consideration the architecture. This analysis demonstrates that Tambo Viejo was established following an Inca plan; however, the architecture is local, suggesting that the builders of the site were from Acari. This observation allows us to argue that the Inca administration adapted to local construction patterns.