Introduction

ÁLVAREZ LARRAIN, ALINA; GRECO, CATRIEL; WYNDVELDT, FEDERICO

Political Landscapes of the Late Intermediate Period in the South-Central Andes. The Pukaras and their hinterland

Springer International Publishing

Lugar: Cham; Año: 2018; p. 1 - 9

This book was born out of a symposium held at the 19th National Congress of Argentine Archaeology (CNAA) entitled, Pukaras, strategic and dispersed settlements: Political landscapes of the Late Intermediate Period in the Southern Andes. The conference took place in San Miguel de Tucuman between August 8th and 12th, 2016, and was organized by the first two authors of this introduction and with Federico Wynveldt as discussant. The symposium had an excellent reception both by the speakers at the time of call for papers, and by the academic public (students and researchers) present at the meeting, encouraging us to compile the presentations into an edited volume.The Late Intermediate Period or LIP (ca. AD 1000-1430) in the Andes is a span of time that follows the decline of the Wari and Tiwanaku states (Covey 2008). Beyond regional variations, there is consensus that the LIP is characterized by processes of social complexity, regional population growth, cooperative and competitive relationships (including warfare), within a fluctuating political landscape where populations of varying size created distinct ethnic identities, economic systems, and social structures (Arkush 2011; Arkush and Stanish 2005; Covey 2008; Nielsen 2002). Paleoenvironmental data suggests that by the late 1200s, droughts became more severe (Abbott et al. 1997; Arkush 2008; Binford et al. 1997; Morales et al. 2013; Thompson et al. 1998, inter alia), perhaps prompting an increase in violence (Arkush 2011; Nielsen 2009). Radiocarbon dates from hillfort sites indicate that regional intergroup conflict and political integration increased by 13th century or so before the region began to come under Inka control around 15th century (Arkush and Stanish 2005; Marsh et al. 2017; Nielsen 2009). As Arkush has highlighted (2008) the pattern of defensive hilltop settlements and fortified sites was recognized for the central and southern highlands decades ago, but recent research has demonstrated that it extends from at least northern highland Peru, throughout central and southern Peru and highland Bolivia, to northern Chile and northwestern Argentina (Aldunate et al. 2003; Arkush 2011; Castro et al. 1991; Covey 2008; Malpass and Alconini 2010; Nielsen 2002; Tarragó 2011; Uribe Rodríguez et al. 2004; Wynveldt 2009). Archaeological evidence indicates that some pukara, a word that means ?fortress? or ?castle? in both Aymara and Quechua (Bertonio 1612; González-Holguin 1901), functioned as fortified refuges, that is, temporary shelters for people to congregate in times of conflict (or threats of conflict) (Arkush 2011; González Dubox et al. 2011; Nielsen in this volume). Meanwhile, a high number of conglomerate towns in strategic positions shows evidence of permanent residence (Aldunate et al. 2003; Arkush 2011; Castro et al. 1991; Nielsen in this volume; Tarragó 2011; Uribe Rodríguez et al. 2004; Wynveldt 2009).