The Impact of the Inca Empire in Northwest Argentina: Assessment of Health Status and Food Consumption at Esquina de Huajra (Quebrada de Humahuaca, Argentina)

GHEGGI, MARÍA SOLEDAD; WILLIAMS, VERÓNICA; CREMONTE, MARÍA BEATRIZ

International Journal of Osteoarchaeology

John Wiley & Sons Ltd

Año: 2018

The Inca Empire annexed the modern territory of Northwest Argentina ca. 1450 A.D. Inca presence manifested regionally with different intensity, highlighting that the Empire carried out different strategies when interacting with conquered populations even within the same region. Regional fluctuations in power centralization may affect the quality of life of local groups, regarding access to food, labour, conflict or inequality. In this paper we analyze stable isotopes, dental and osteological information to evaluate if the individuals that inhabited the archaeological site Esquina de Huajra (Quebrada de Humahuaca, Jujuy) experienced a deprived life quality under Inca administration. Isotopic results signal a balanced diet composed of both vegetal and animal resources and skeletal indicators of health do not suggest a population undergoing stress.