Search

The prehispanic Andes are an environment teeming with living beings, both human and non-human. Non-human entities exhibit many similar traits to Andean societies, including a hierarchy, characters with individual personalities and motivations. Regular interactions between humans and these entities were necessary to protect against them. Especially the most important entities, the highest peaks called apus, were potential protectors, but also a constant threat. Visibility and sight are an important aspect in the relationship, as anything within sight of an apu could be considered under its influence and thus could receive a positive or negative impact depending on its mood. This article focuses on that connection between Andean communities and the powerful apus, and how the Inca state could have used architecture to disrupt it using the example of the Vitcos valley. After the incorporation of the Vilcabamba region into the Tawantinsuyu, the Incas built Vitcos as their administrative and religious center and the former larger site Viracochan was abandoned. This meant moving a high-altitude settlement to the valley floor, changing the area that was visible to humans on a daily basis and impacting their communication with the apus of the Cordillera Vilcabamba. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Archaeology Bulletin of PUCP presents the second part of the special volume on "Archaeology of dependencies in Latin America", based on an international conference at the University of Bonn. The concept of asymmetric dependency and its different forms, such as resource dependency and spatial dependency, are explored. Cases of dependency in different regions of Latin America are analyzed, from the pre-Hispanic period to the colonial era, through archaeological and cultural evidence. [Extracted from the article]

The article presents the results of an international conference on the archaeology of dependencies in Latin America. It focuses on the asymmetrical relationships between different actors, both human and non-human, which involve one group or person exerting control over the actions of another and access to resources. The study is expanded to include other forms of dependency such as colonialism, political-ideological coercion, tribute, and servitude. The article brings together different archaeological approaches and perspectives on asymmetrical dependencies in Latin America, covering various regions and time periods. The archaeological approaches and methods used to identify forms of dependency in the archaeological record are also discussed. Additionally, the ancient agricultural terrace systems in the Andes are analyzed, and the dependency relationships between the coast and the highlands in Peru are mentioned. The document provides a list of bibliographic references related to the archaeology and history of Latin America. [Extracted from the article]