Accelerating History in the Lake Titicaca Basin: The Rapid Emergence of Agropastoralism and the State

MARSH, ERIK J.

Berkeley

Congreso; 55th Annual Meeting of the Institute of Andean Studies; 2015

Institute of Andean Studies

During the 10,000-year human occupation of the Lake Titicaca Basin, two transitional periods were particularly poignant: the emergence of agropastoralism (~1590?1170 cal BC) and the Tiwanaku state (cal AD ~430?590). I suggest that history accelerated during these centuries, based on a series of Bayesian analyses of more than 250 radiocarbon dates, many produced through substantial efforts by researchers over the last decade. These two examples highlight past Titicaca inhabitants? capacity to actively generate rapid, profound regional changes, a view of the Andean longue durée that stands in contrast to evolutionary models? expectations for gradual developments.