Le XXIe sera-t-il le siècle de la fin des ruines?? Redécouverts pour la plupart au XXe siècle, bo... more Le XXIe sera-t-il le siècle de la fin des ruines?? Redécouverts pour la plupart au XXe siècle, bon nombre de sites qui constituent le patrimoine mondial sont menacés d'une destruction pure et simple. Or il ne peut y avoir de sociétés sans ruines, et la conservation des monuments les plus remarquables parvenus jusqu'à nous est aujourd'hui une urgence. D'autant que les menaces sont nombreuses et diverses : destructions volontaires, pillage, pression de l'urbanisation, tourisme de masse, restaurations abusives, négligence et pollution ou conséquences des changements climatiques. Afin de comprendre l'immense intérêt de ces sites exceptionnels, mais aussi leur fragilité, tout en racontant leurs histoires multiséculaires, Peter Eeckhout nous entraîne, par le texte et par l'image, à la découverte d'Angkor et de Méroé, de Pachacamac, d'Alep et de Palmyre, d'Haïti, de Délos, de Carthage, et de bien d'autres merveilles encore.
Presenting studies in Andean archaeology and iconography by leading specialists in the field, thi... more Presenting studies in Andean archaeology and iconography by leading specialists in the field, this volume tackles the question of how researchers can come to understand the intangible, intellectual worlds of ancient peoples. Archaeological Interpretations is a fascinating ontological journey through Andean cultures from the fourth millennium BC to the sixteenth century, A.D. Through evidence-based case studies, theoretical models, and methodological reflections, contributors discuss the various interpretations that can be derived from the traces of ritual activity that remain in the material record. They discuss how to accurately comprehend the social significance of artifacts beyond their practical use and how to decode the symbolism of sacred images. Addressing topics including the earliest evidence of shamanism in Ecuador, the meaning of masks among the Mochicas in Peru, the value of metal in the Recuay culture, and ceremonies of voluntary abandonment among the Incas, contributors propose original and innovative ways of interpreting the rich Andean archaeological heritage. Contributors: Luis Jaime Castillo Butters Peter Eeckhout Christine Hastorf Abigail Levine George F. Lau Frank Meddens Charles S. Stanish Edward Swenson Gary Urton Francisco Valdez
This edited volume focuses on the funerary archaeology of the Pan-Andean area in the pre-Hispanic... more This edited volume focuses on the funerary archaeology of the Pan-Andean area in the pre-Hispanic period. The contributors examine the treatment of the dead and provide an understanding of how these ancient groups coped with mortality, as well as the ways in which they strove to overcome the effects of death. The contributors also present previously unpublished discoveries and employ a range of academic and analytical approaches that have rarely - if ever - been utilised in South America before. The book covers the Formative Period to the end of the Inca Empire, and the chapters together comprise a state-of-the-art summary of all the best research on Andean funerary archaeology currently being carried out around the globe.
UNVEILING PACHACAMAC NEW HYPOTHESES FOR AN OLD ANDEAN SANCTUARY, 2022
This paper summarises the current state of play concerning climatologically oriented accounts of ... more This paper summarises the current state of play concerning climatologically oriented accounts of ancient human settlement patterns and behaviour, with particular emphasis on the Andean region. We then question the advisability of the current trend towards palaeoclimatologically-directed archaeological metanarratives, taking the case of Pachacamac – Peruvian Central Coast – as an example. Preliminary bioarchaeological data are provided in order to assess the human impact of climatic events in the Pachacamac region in the early 11th century AD, with particular reference to a major tsunami and flood event recent identified in the adjacent Urpi Kocha marshes (Winsborough et al. 2011). Standard measures of health, body proportions, trauma and disease were all taken and compared across the temporal phase in question. We argue that the mosaic nature of the results is a measure of the complexity involved in a sociocultural, behavioural and environmental palimpsest that precludes the feasibility of engendering a palaeoclimatological monocausality paradigm, and propose alternative routes by which we may approach disparate but ultimately complementary strands of archaeological, anthropological and climatological data.
RESUMEN En el curso de las excavaciones llevadas en el 2014, 2016 y 2018 en el edificio B15 de Pa... more RESUMEN En el curso de las excavaciones llevadas en el 2014, 2016 y 2018 en el edificio B15 de Pachacamac, Costa Central del Perú, se hallaron cantidades de textiles y artefactos de plumas con vinculación estilística y técnica foráneas. En el marco de este ensayo, presento y discuto una serie de casos que demuestran la filiación norteña de estas piezas (Chimú y Sicán). Sin embargo, los artefactos "norteños" que hemos encontrado no se pueden comparar con ningún ejemplo estrictamente idéntico fuera de Pachacamac. Se propone que artesanos de orígenes foráneas fueron llevados al sitio para fabricar textiles y crearon un estilo sincrético o hibrido es decir mostrando rasgos de su lugar de origen y rasgos nuevos, producto del contacto con los incas y los ychsmas.
ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND ETHNOGRAPHIC EVIDENCE OF DOMINATION IN INDIGENOUS LATIN AMERICA, 2023
The purpose of this paper is to systematically assess the evidence for conflict and violence in t... more The purpose of this paper is to systematically assess the evidence for conflict and violence in the prehispanic cultures of ancient Peru, in order to contextualise our case study: the site of Pachacamac. This multi-pronged analysis includes a review of archaeological data (weapons, fortifications), iconography, bioarchaeology (traumatic lesions) and ethnohistorical data. We will develop a interpretational framework to examine how these disparate data streams can be reconciled in order to clarify the social and environmental correlates of traumatic pathology, and to differentiate the signatures engendered by all levels of violence from the inter-personal (conflict; domestic abuse) to the socio-cultural (ritual violence) and the state-sanctioned (battles and wars).
RESUMEN Si todos están de acuerdo en el hecho de que Pachacamac fue un asentamiento mayor adentro... more RESUMEN Si todos están de acuerdo en el hecho de que Pachacamac fue un asentamiento mayor adentro del Tahuantinsuyu, y también que los cambios llevados por los incas fueron importantes, no existe un consenso real sobre la naturaleza de estas transformaciones y tampoco la cronología de los monumentos que las atestigarian. En el marco de este ensayo, vamos a tratar de hacer un balance de esta cuestión mediante el exámen de los diferentes modelos que se han propuesto desde el fin del siglo pasado. Vamos a ver que si todos bién se basan en la arqueología, y no en los textos, las interpretaciones difieren en muchos puntos.
Post-Apocalypto: Crisis and Resilience in the Maya World, 2022
The two areas and the main cultures that we will deal with are the Post-Classic Aztecs and relate... more The two areas and the main cultures that we will deal with are the Post-Classic Aztecs and related societies on a side, and the Incas and related Late Horizon societies on the other side. Both present an enormous advantage for what concerns the degree of knowledge we can hope to achieve about their mythic tales and related beliefs: the Spanish accounts. Of course, our automatic reliance upon colonial-era documents is flawed, as they cannot possibly determine how ancient myths, rituals and religions evolved in the pre-colonial period, or in which order. It is also necessary to filter and criticize those accounts, as they are themselves imbued with ethnocentric and chronocentric concerns of their authors and the possible distorsions due to specific social background, personal strategies, and reliability of their informants. Keeping in mind those epistemological constraints, we propose to review and compare the contact period descriptions of apocalypses in Mesoamerica and the Central Andean area.
Cet article a pour objectif d’apporter une réflexion méthodologique sur l’exploitation des numéri... more Cet article a pour objectif d’apporter une réflexion méthodologique sur l’exploitation des numérisations d’un site archéologique de grande échelle. Basées sur un grand volume de données issues de relevés photogrammétriques et GPR aériens, ces numérisations sont bien souvent utilisées pour l’enregistrement de l’état du bâti au moment de l’acquisition ou la prospection archéologique. Notre approche propose d’étendre l’exploitation de ces types de données massives afin d’enrichir la connaissance des logiques de conception urbaine d’une « cité » dont il ne reste que certaines parties monumentales encore visible aujourd’hui. En outre, les méthodes d’analyse urbaine s’appuient largement sur une compréhension occidentale de la ville qui est parfois très éloignée de celle que l’on rencontre en Amérique du sud avant l’arrivée des conquistadors. Au-delà des enjeux de connaissances spécifiques au terrain d’étude, l’ambition première de cet article est de comprendre comment l’apport et l’exploi...
The International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences, 2022
Drones are becoming essential in the field of heritage surveying, especially for large-scale arch... more Drones are becoming essential in the field of heritage surveying, especially for large-scale archaeological site. The precision offered by the new survey tools (UAVs, sensors, processing software, etc.) should make it possible to obtain enough information to complete the plan of a site on an urban scale. This paper shows the use of two types of sensors embedded simultaneously on a UAV with the aim of highlighting information that is often difficult to detect on the ground. By crossing RGB and thermal data, certain built-up limits seem to appear. Thanks to this new information, hypotheses of the urban structure are proposed. In other words, the aim is to bring out circulation hypotheses within a large complex archaeological site. Unlike the field of architectural survey where thermography is widely used, for example, to identify certain building pathologies, in archeology this technique does not seem to be part of the traditional survey pipeline and even less on large-scale sites. The possibility of using a third type of sensor is also sketched. The aerial-GPR would in fact make it possible to confirm the presence of a buried structure without having to go through systematic excavation and could provide a threedimensional image of the ruins.
A B S T R A C T
Objective: To investigate evidence for maxillary sinusitis and pulmonary inflamm... more A B S T R A C T Objective: To investigate evidence for maxillary sinusitis and pulmonary inflammation in archaeological skeletons dating to the Late Intermediate Period (AD 1000-1476) at the site of Pachacamac, Peru. Materials: Thirty-nine individuals (male, female, and unknown sex; 16+ years age-at-death) were analyzed for inflammatory periosteal reaction (IPR) on the visceral (inner) surfaces of the ribs, and 16 individuals were analyzed for evidence of maxillary sinusitis. Methods: All individuals were macroscopically examined for bony changes in the maxillary sinuses and new bone formation on the ribs according to pre-established criteria. Results: Some 33.3% (13/39) of individuals had IPR on the ribs and 93.8% (15/16) had bony changes in the maxillary sinuses. Conclusions: Respiratory disease was likely prevalent in people buried at Pachacamac during the Late Intermediate Period. A number of factors may have increased the risk of developing respiratory disease, including exposure to poor air quality and increased crowding and social mixing, resulting from pilgrimage to this important ritual center. Significance: This paper represents one of the first systematic analyses of evidence for respiratory disease in Peruvian and South American human skeletal remains, demonstrating the suitability of the region for further study. Limitations: A limited sample was available for analysis. Additionally, the site’s skeletal preservation was excellent, meaning the sample available for assessment of maxillary sinusitis was smaller, being limited to in-dividuals with post-mortem breakage. Further Research: The results of this study should stimulate further much needed systematic investigation of evidence for respiratory disease in other Peruvian and South American populations. Keywords: Maxillary sinusitis, Rib lesions, Pleural disease, Periosteal reaction, Pre-Columbian, Andean
False heads have been a recurring accessory for Andean mummies since the Middle Horizon (ca AD750... more False heads have been a recurring accessory for Andean mummies since the Middle Horizon (ca AD750-1000). Made of ceramic, wood, or cloth, they show schematic human features and are placed on the funerary bundles that contain the bodies of the deceased. From a corpus of nearly 80 pieces from the Pachacamac site (excavations and museum collections), a typology is proposed, accompanied by a chronology based on a series of absolute dates. False heads also have recurring characteristics that allow us to understand their particular function. It appears that these objects are associated with certain important ancestors, whom their descendants worshiped. They were active agents, participants in the ritual traditions discussed ethnohistorically. The false head plays a crucial role in the relationship between the dead and the living and sheds light on the specific ontological position of the dead in the ancient Andes.
Guinea pigs (Cavia spp.) have a long association with humans. From as early as 10,000 years ago t... more Guinea pigs (Cavia spp.) have a long association with humans. From as early as 10,000 years ago they were a wild food source. Later, domesticated Cavia porcellus were dispersed well beyond their native range through pre-Columbian exchange networks and, more recently, widely across the globe. Here we present 46 complete mitogenomes of archaeological guinea pigs from sites in Peru, Bolivia, Colombia, the Caribbean, Belgium and the United States to elucidate their evolutionary history, origins and paths of dispersal. our results indicate an independent centre of domestication of Cavia in the eastern colombian Highlands. We identify a peruvian origin for the initial introduction of domesticated guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus) beyond South America into the caribbean. We also demonstrate that peru was the probable source of the earliest known guinea pigs transported, as part of the exotic pet trade, to both Europe and the southeastern United States. Finally, we identify a modern reintroduction of guinea pigs to Puerto Rico, where local inhabitants use them for food. This research demonstrates that the natural and cultural history of guinea pigs is more complex than previously known and has implications for other studies regarding regional to global-scale studies of mammal domestication, translocation, and distribution. The use of ancient DNA (aDNA) in studies of animal domestication and subsequent translocation has radically improved our ability to identify spatially, temporally, and culturally variable processes of domestication and the diversity of social networks behind domestic species distribution (e.g. 1,2). Increasingly, aDNA studies are revising previous assumptions of geographically conscripted animal domestication and dispersal events to reveal multiple centers, timings, and processes of domestication of the world's most prominent domestic animals (e.g. pigs, chickens, cattle, dogs 3-6). Because domestic animals are exemplar proxies for investigating past human migration and interaction, understanding long-term, diachronic patterns of when and where species domestication and
Guinea pigs (Cavia spp.) have a long association with humans. From as early as 10,000 years ago t... more Guinea pigs (Cavia spp.) have a long association with humans. From as early as 10,000 years ago they were a wild food source. Later, domesticated Cavia porcellus were dispersed well beyond their native range through pre-Columbian exchange networks and, more recently, widely across the globe. Here we present 46 complete mitogenomes of archaeological guinea pigs from sites in Peru, Bolivia, Colombia, the Caribbean, Belgium and the United States to elucidate their evolutionary history, origins and paths of dispersal. our results indicate an independent centre of domestication of Cavia in the eastern colombian Highlands. We identify a peruvian origin for the initial introduction of domesticated guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus) beyond South America into the caribbean. We also demonstrate that peru was the probable source of the earliest known guinea pigs transported, as part of the exotic pet trade, to both Europe and the southeastern United States. Finally, we identify a modern reintroduction of guinea pigs to Puerto Rico, where local inhabitants use them for food. This research demonstrates that the natural and cultural history of guinea pigs is more complex than previously known and has implications for other studies regarding regional to global-scale studies of mammal domestication, translocation, and distribution. The use of ancient DNA (aDNA) in studies of animal domestication and subsequent translocation has radically improved our ability to identify spatially, temporally, and culturally variable processes of domestication and the diversity of social networks behind domestic species distribution (e.g. 1,2). Increasingly, aDNA studies are revising previous assumptions of geographically conscripted animal domestication and dispersal events to reveal multiple centers, timings, and processes of domestication of the world's most prominent domestic animals (e.g. pigs, chickens, cattle, dogs 3-6). Because domestic animals are exemplar proxies for investigating past human migration and interaction, understanding long-term, diachronic patterns of when and where species domestication and
Funerary archaeoentomology entails the study of insects from archaeological contexts, in order to... more Funerary archaeoentomology entails the study of insects from archaeological contexts, in order to examine funerary practices, thanatology and hygiene/sanitation in ancient populations. However, while insects from human mummies have been widely studied, there is a limited literature dealing with archaeoentomology of animal sacrifices. Andean camelid sacrifices are common in ritual contexts, as funerary or foundation offerings. The current paper addresses camelid remains recovered from the archaeological site of Pachacamac, during the 2016 excavation season. The insect fauna was assessed in order to determine the social context of the remains, and the manner in which the camelids were utilised. The carcasses yielded remains pertaining to Diptera and Coleoptera. The presence of Cochliomyia macellaria (Diptera, Calliphoridae), Sarcophaga sp. (Diptera, Sarcophagidae) and Synthesiomyia nudiseta (Diptera, Muscidae) suggest an initial colonisation in the open, while other species typical of later phases of the colonisation-including Hydrotaea aenescens (Diptera, Muscidae) and members of the family Phoridae-suggest that the carcasses were subsequently buried. Despite the evident importance of camelids to Andean populations, both historically and archaeologically, this is the first time that entomology has been used to examine animal sacrifice methods in this area, and comprises a watershed in the development of multidisciplinary approaches to sacrificial rites in ancient Peru.
Resumen Durante la campaña de excavaciones del año 2014, miembros del equipo del Proyecto Ychsma ... more Resumen Durante la campaña de excavaciones del año 2014, miembros del equipo del Proyecto Ychsma excavaron el Edificio B15. Esta pequeña estructura situada dentro de la Segunda Muralla del santuario de Pachacamac se reveló decorada con pinturas murales. Se trata de los primeros murales descubiertos en el sitio arqueológico desde 1938. En ellos se pue-den apreciar dibujos polícromos de peces, plantas, motivos geométricos e incluso un personaje humano. La campaña de excavaciones del 2016 completó este descubrimiento con un rico material pictórico consistente en pinceles, motas, cuencos con pintura, panes de pigmento y un batán. Tanto el contexto arqueológico como el estilo y la temática de la decoración sugieren una datación alrededor del inicio del siglo XVI; es decir, al final del Horizonte Tardío. El valor excepcional de estas pinturas nos ha llevado a realizar un profundo estudio de la estratigrafía de las capas pictó-ricas presentes sobre muros y adobes caídos, así como análisis en laboratorio. Este revela que los murales debieron ser en su gran mayoría de color rojo con dibujos amarillos delineados en negro; así también encontramos dibujos de color ocre, verde claro y verde brillante, blanco e incluso un tono celeste. Las numerosas superposiciones de capas pictóricas indican que las pinturas debieron renovarse, variando colores y motivos decorativos, sin necesariamente seguir el mismo patrón para todos los muros. En cuanto a la gama cromática, se obtuvo a partir de pigmentos minerales; salvo para el negro compuesto por carbón. Las mezclas colorantes debieron preparase in situ con herramientas fabricadas a partir de materias vegetales locales y, en el caso de los pinceles, con pelo de camélido. Estos primeros resultados están siendo en la actualidad confirmados y completados por análisis del material encontrado durante la campaña del 2016.
Abstract PAINTINGS AND PAINTERS AT PACHACAMAC: A MULTIDISCIPLINARY STUDY OF BUILDING B15 The Ychsma Project´s 2014 excavations at Pachacamac focused on an unusual structure, dubbed Building B15. The structure is located within the site´s Sacred Precinct, and is notable for being extensively decorated with mural paintings; this is the first time that wall paintings have been found at the site since 1938. Numerous designs have been noted, ranging from zoomorphic to dendriform, geometric and anthropomorphic motifs. Further discoveries of brushes, cotton
Eeckhout, P. (2019). Before Lima: the Rímac-Lurín area on the eve of Spanish conquest. In E. Eng... more Eeckhout, P. (2019). Before Lima: the Rímac-Lurín area on the eve of Spanish conquest. In E. Engel (Ed.) A Companion to Early Modern Lima, pp.46-81. Leiden: Brill Academic Publishers.
ABSTRACT- Late prehispanic society in the Lima area has mainly been studied and described on the basis of ethnohistorical sources. However, the past decade has seen growing interest in the archaeology , while burgeoning rescue archaeology and heritage management programs have resulted in greatly increased archaeological data resources. This essay aims to synthesize archaeological and historical data in order to provide a holistic picture of the socio-political organisation of this area under the Inca Empire.
Erratum: instead of Yarushka 2014 (notes 18 and 27) , the correct reference is the following: Pebe Niebuhr, Helen Yarushka. 2014. "El Complejo arqueológico monumental de Mateo Salado y su relación con el proyecto circuito turístico nocturno de Lima". Logos 4(1) : 1-16.
Popular write up about the latest discoveries of th Ychsma Project at Pachacamac, with color phot... more Popular write up about the latest discoveries of th Ychsma Project at Pachacamac, with color photos ;-)
IEEE Xplore digital library (IEEE/IET Electronic Library)., 2018
This paper intends a first methodological look at representing the non-visible in a large scale a... more This paper intends a first methodological look at representing the non-visible in a large scale archaeological site, Pachacamac (Peru). The digitization based on aerial photogrammetry and ground-penetrating radar (GPR) using unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) results in a large volume of data. These data are often used to register the state of the constructions at the moment of the capture (photogrammetry) or for the archaeological prospective (GPR). Our approach proposes to extend the use of such types of big data to gain better knowledge about the logics of urban planning in a context of a heritage study.
Le XXIe sera-t-il le siècle de la fin des ruines?? Redécouverts pour la plupart au XXe siècle, bo... more Le XXIe sera-t-il le siècle de la fin des ruines?? Redécouverts pour la plupart au XXe siècle, bon nombre de sites qui constituent le patrimoine mondial sont menacés d'une destruction pure et simple. Or il ne peut y avoir de sociétés sans ruines, et la conservation des monuments les plus remarquables parvenus jusqu'à nous est aujourd'hui une urgence. D'autant que les menaces sont nombreuses et diverses : destructions volontaires, pillage, pression de l'urbanisation, tourisme de masse, restaurations abusives, négligence et pollution ou conséquences des changements climatiques. Afin de comprendre l'immense intérêt de ces sites exceptionnels, mais aussi leur fragilité, tout en racontant leurs histoires multiséculaires, Peter Eeckhout nous entraîne, par le texte et par l'image, à la découverte d'Angkor et de Méroé, de Pachacamac, d'Alep et de Palmyre, d'Haïti, de Délos, de Carthage, et de bien d'autres merveilles encore.
Presenting studies in Andean archaeology and iconography by leading specialists in the field, thi... more Presenting studies in Andean archaeology and iconography by leading specialists in the field, this volume tackles the question of how researchers can come to understand the intangible, intellectual worlds of ancient peoples. Archaeological Interpretations is a fascinating ontological journey through Andean cultures from the fourth millennium BC to the sixteenth century, A.D. Through evidence-based case studies, theoretical models, and methodological reflections, contributors discuss the various interpretations that can be derived from the traces of ritual activity that remain in the material record. They discuss how to accurately comprehend the social significance of artifacts beyond their practical use and how to decode the symbolism of sacred images. Addressing topics including the earliest evidence of shamanism in Ecuador, the meaning of masks among the Mochicas in Peru, the value of metal in the Recuay culture, and ceremonies of voluntary abandonment among the Incas, contributors propose original and innovative ways of interpreting the rich Andean archaeological heritage. Contributors: Luis Jaime Castillo Butters Peter Eeckhout Christine Hastorf Abigail Levine George F. Lau Frank Meddens Charles S. Stanish Edward Swenson Gary Urton Francisco Valdez
This edited volume focuses on the funerary archaeology of the Pan-Andean area in the pre-Hispanic... more This edited volume focuses on the funerary archaeology of the Pan-Andean area in the pre-Hispanic period. The contributors examine the treatment of the dead and provide an understanding of how these ancient groups coped with mortality, as well as the ways in which they strove to overcome the effects of death. The contributors also present previously unpublished discoveries and employ a range of academic and analytical approaches that have rarely - if ever - been utilised in South America before. The book covers the Formative Period to the end of the Inca Empire, and the chapters together comprise a state-of-the-art summary of all the best research on Andean funerary archaeology currently being carried out around the globe.
UNVEILING PACHACAMAC NEW HYPOTHESES FOR AN OLD ANDEAN SANCTUARY, 2022
This paper summarises the current state of play concerning climatologically oriented accounts of ... more This paper summarises the current state of play concerning climatologically oriented accounts of ancient human settlement patterns and behaviour, with particular emphasis on the Andean region. We then question the advisability of the current trend towards palaeoclimatologically-directed archaeological metanarratives, taking the case of Pachacamac – Peruvian Central Coast – as an example. Preliminary bioarchaeological data are provided in order to assess the human impact of climatic events in the Pachacamac region in the early 11th century AD, with particular reference to a major tsunami and flood event recent identified in the adjacent Urpi Kocha marshes (Winsborough et al. 2011). Standard measures of health, body proportions, trauma and disease were all taken and compared across the temporal phase in question. We argue that the mosaic nature of the results is a measure of the complexity involved in a sociocultural, behavioural and environmental palimpsest that precludes the feasibility of engendering a palaeoclimatological monocausality paradigm, and propose alternative routes by which we may approach disparate but ultimately complementary strands of archaeological, anthropological and climatological data.
RESUMEN En el curso de las excavaciones llevadas en el 2014, 2016 y 2018 en el edificio B15 de Pa... more RESUMEN En el curso de las excavaciones llevadas en el 2014, 2016 y 2018 en el edificio B15 de Pachacamac, Costa Central del Perú, se hallaron cantidades de textiles y artefactos de plumas con vinculación estilística y técnica foráneas. En el marco de este ensayo, presento y discuto una serie de casos que demuestran la filiación norteña de estas piezas (Chimú y Sicán). Sin embargo, los artefactos "norteños" que hemos encontrado no se pueden comparar con ningún ejemplo estrictamente idéntico fuera de Pachacamac. Se propone que artesanos de orígenes foráneas fueron llevados al sitio para fabricar textiles y crearon un estilo sincrético o hibrido es decir mostrando rasgos de su lugar de origen y rasgos nuevos, producto del contacto con los incas y los ychsmas.
ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND ETHNOGRAPHIC EVIDENCE OF DOMINATION IN INDIGENOUS LATIN AMERICA, 2023
The purpose of this paper is to systematically assess the evidence for conflict and violence in t... more The purpose of this paper is to systematically assess the evidence for conflict and violence in the prehispanic cultures of ancient Peru, in order to contextualise our case study: the site of Pachacamac. This multi-pronged analysis includes a review of archaeological data (weapons, fortifications), iconography, bioarchaeology (traumatic lesions) and ethnohistorical data. We will develop a interpretational framework to examine how these disparate data streams can be reconciled in order to clarify the social and environmental correlates of traumatic pathology, and to differentiate the signatures engendered by all levels of violence from the inter-personal (conflict; domestic abuse) to the socio-cultural (ritual violence) and the state-sanctioned (battles and wars).
RESUMEN Si todos están de acuerdo en el hecho de que Pachacamac fue un asentamiento mayor adentro... more RESUMEN Si todos están de acuerdo en el hecho de que Pachacamac fue un asentamiento mayor adentro del Tahuantinsuyu, y también que los cambios llevados por los incas fueron importantes, no existe un consenso real sobre la naturaleza de estas transformaciones y tampoco la cronología de los monumentos que las atestigarian. En el marco de este ensayo, vamos a tratar de hacer un balance de esta cuestión mediante el exámen de los diferentes modelos que se han propuesto desde el fin del siglo pasado. Vamos a ver que si todos bién se basan en la arqueología, y no en los textos, las interpretaciones difieren en muchos puntos.
Post-Apocalypto: Crisis and Resilience in the Maya World, 2022
The two areas and the main cultures that we will deal with are the Post-Classic Aztecs and relate... more The two areas and the main cultures that we will deal with are the Post-Classic Aztecs and related societies on a side, and the Incas and related Late Horizon societies on the other side. Both present an enormous advantage for what concerns the degree of knowledge we can hope to achieve about their mythic tales and related beliefs: the Spanish accounts. Of course, our automatic reliance upon colonial-era documents is flawed, as they cannot possibly determine how ancient myths, rituals and religions evolved in the pre-colonial period, or in which order. It is also necessary to filter and criticize those accounts, as they are themselves imbued with ethnocentric and chronocentric concerns of their authors and the possible distorsions due to specific social background, personal strategies, and reliability of their informants. Keeping in mind those epistemological constraints, we propose to review and compare the contact period descriptions of apocalypses in Mesoamerica and the Central Andean area.
Cet article a pour objectif d’apporter une réflexion méthodologique sur l’exploitation des numéri... more Cet article a pour objectif d’apporter une réflexion méthodologique sur l’exploitation des numérisations d’un site archéologique de grande échelle. Basées sur un grand volume de données issues de relevés photogrammétriques et GPR aériens, ces numérisations sont bien souvent utilisées pour l’enregistrement de l’état du bâti au moment de l’acquisition ou la prospection archéologique. Notre approche propose d’étendre l’exploitation de ces types de données massives afin d’enrichir la connaissance des logiques de conception urbaine d’une « cité » dont il ne reste que certaines parties monumentales encore visible aujourd’hui. En outre, les méthodes d’analyse urbaine s’appuient largement sur une compréhension occidentale de la ville qui est parfois très éloignée de celle que l’on rencontre en Amérique du sud avant l’arrivée des conquistadors. Au-delà des enjeux de connaissances spécifiques au terrain d’étude, l’ambition première de cet article est de comprendre comment l’apport et l’exploi...
The International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences, 2022
Drones are becoming essential in the field of heritage surveying, especially for large-scale arch... more Drones are becoming essential in the field of heritage surveying, especially for large-scale archaeological site. The precision offered by the new survey tools (UAVs, sensors, processing software, etc.) should make it possible to obtain enough information to complete the plan of a site on an urban scale. This paper shows the use of two types of sensors embedded simultaneously on a UAV with the aim of highlighting information that is often difficult to detect on the ground. By crossing RGB and thermal data, certain built-up limits seem to appear. Thanks to this new information, hypotheses of the urban structure are proposed. In other words, the aim is to bring out circulation hypotheses within a large complex archaeological site. Unlike the field of architectural survey where thermography is widely used, for example, to identify certain building pathologies, in archeology this technique does not seem to be part of the traditional survey pipeline and even less on large-scale sites. The possibility of using a third type of sensor is also sketched. The aerial-GPR would in fact make it possible to confirm the presence of a buried structure without having to go through systematic excavation and could provide a threedimensional image of the ruins.
A B S T R A C T
Objective: To investigate evidence for maxillary sinusitis and pulmonary inflamm... more A B S T R A C T Objective: To investigate evidence for maxillary sinusitis and pulmonary inflammation in archaeological skeletons dating to the Late Intermediate Period (AD 1000-1476) at the site of Pachacamac, Peru. Materials: Thirty-nine individuals (male, female, and unknown sex; 16+ years age-at-death) were analyzed for inflammatory periosteal reaction (IPR) on the visceral (inner) surfaces of the ribs, and 16 individuals were analyzed for evidence of maxillary sinusitis. Methods: All individuals were macroscopically examined for bony changes in the maxillary sinuses and new bone formation on the ribs according to pre-established criteria. Results: Some 33.3% (13/39) of individuals had IPR on the ribs and 93.8% (15/16) had bony changes in the maxillary sinuses. Conclusions: Respiratory disease was likely prevalent in people buried at Pachacamac during the Late Intermediate Period. A number of factors may have increased the risk of developing respiratory disease, including exposure to poor air quality and increased crowding and social mixing, resulting from pilgrimage to this important ritual center. Significance: This paper represents one of the first systematic analyses of evidence for respiratory disease in Peruvian and South American human skeletal remains, demonstrating the suitability of the region for further study. Limitations: A limited sample was available for analysis. Additionally, the site’s skeletal preservation was excellent, meaning the sample available for assessment of maxillary sinusitis was smaller, being limited to in-dividuals with post-mortem breakage. Further Research: The results of this study should stimulate further much needed systematic investigation of evidence for respiratory disease in other Peruvian and South American populations. Keywords: Maxillary sinusitis, Rib lesions, Pleural disease, Periosteal reaction, Pre-Columbian, Andean
False heads have been a recurring accessory for Andean mummies since the Middle Horizon (ca AD750... more False heads have been a recurring accessory for Andean mummies since the Middle Horizon (ca AD750-1000). Made of ceramic, wood, or cloth, they show schematic human features and are placed on the funerary bundles that contain the bodies of the deceased. From a corpus of nearly 80 pieces from the Pachacamac site (excavations and museum collections), a typology is proposed, accompanied by a chronology based on a series of absolute dates. False heads also have recurring characteristics that allow us to understand their particular function. It appears that these objects are associated with certain important ancestors, whom their descendants worshiped. They were active agents, participants in the ritual traditions discussed ethnohistorically. The false head plays a crucial role in the relationship between the dead and the living and sheds light on the specific ontological position of the dead in the ancient Andes.
Guinea pigs (Cavia spp.) have a long association with humans. From as early as 10,000 years ago t... more Guinea pigs (Cavia spp.) have a long association with humans. From as early as 10,000 years ago they were a wild food source. Later, domesticated Cavia porcellus were dispersed well beyond their native range through pre-Columbian exchange networks and, more recently, widely across the globe. Here we present 46 complete mitogenomes of archaeological guinea pigs from sites in Peru, Bolivia, Colombia, the Caribbean, Belgium and the United States to elucidate their evolutionary history, origins and paths of dispersal. our results indicate an independent centre of domestication of Cavia in the eastern colombian Highlands. We identify a peruvian origin for the initial introduction of domesticated guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus) beyond South America into the caribbean. We also demonstrate that peru was the probable source of the earliest known guinea pigs transported, as part of the exotic pet trade, to both Europe and the southeastern United States. Finally, we identify a modern reintroduction of guinea pigs to Puerto Rico, where local inhabitants use them for food. This research demonstrates that the natural and cultural history of guinea pigs is more complex than previously known and has implications for other studies regarding regional to global-scale studies of mammal domestication, translocation, and distribution. The use of ancient DNA (aDNA) in studies of animal domestication and subsequent translocation has radically improved our ability to identify spatially, temporally, and culturally variable processes of domestication and the diversity of social networks behind domestic species distribution (e.g. 1,2). Increasingly, aDNA studies are revising previous assumptions of geographically conscripted animal domestication and dispersal events to reveal multiple centers, timings, and processes of domestication of the world's most prominent domestic animals (e.g. pigs, chickens, cattle, dogs 3-6). Because domestic animals are exemplar proxies for investigating past human migration and interaction, understanding long-term, diachronic patterns of when and where species domestication and
Guinea pigs (Cavia spp.) have a long association with humans. From as early as 10,000 years ago t... more Guinea pigs (Cavia spp.) have a long association with humans. From as early as 10,000 years ago they were a wild food source. Later, domesticated Cavia porcellus were dispersed well beyond their native range through pre-Columbian exchange networks and, more recently, widely across the globe. Here we present 46 complete mitogenomes of archaeological guinea pigs from sites in Peru, Bolivia, Colombia, the Caribbean, Belgium and the United States to elucidate their evolutionary history, origins and paths of dispersal. our results indicate an independent centre of domestication of Cavia in the eastern colombian Highlands. We identify a peruvian origin for the initial introduction of domesticated guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus) beyond South America into the caribbean. We also demonstrate that peru was the probable source of the earliest known guinea pigs transported, as part of the exotic pet trade, to both Europe and the southeastern United States. Finally, we identify a modern reintroduction of guinea pigs to Puerto Rico, where local inhabitants use them for food. This research demonstrates that the natural and cultural history of guinea pigs is more complex than previously known and has implications for other studies regarding regional to global-scale studies of mammal domestication, translocation, and distribution. The use of ancient DNA (aDNA) in studies of animal domestication and subsequent translocation has radically improved our ability to identify spatially, temporally, and culturally variable processes of domestication and the diversity of social networks behind domestic species distribution (e.g. 1,2). Increasingly, aDNA studies are revising previous assumptions of geographically conscripted animal domestication and dispersal events to reveal multiple centers, timings, and processes of domestication of the world's most prominent domestic animals (e.g. pigs, chickens, cattle, dogs 3-6). Because domestic animals are exemplar proxies for investigating past human migration and interaction, understanding long-term, diachronic patterns of when and where species domestication and
Funerary archaeoentomology entails the study of insects from archaeological contexts, in order to... more Funerary archaeoentomology entails the study of insects from archaeological contexts, in order to examine funerary practices, thanatology and hygiene/sanitation in ancient populations. However, while insects from human mummies have been widely studied, there is a limited literature dealing with archaeoentomology of animal sacrifices. Andean camelid sacrifices are common in ritual contexts, as funerary or foundation offerings. The current paper addresses camelid remains recovered from the archaeological site of Pachacamac, during the 2016 excavation season. The insect fauna was assessed in order to determine the social context of the remains, and the manner in which the camelids were utilised. The carcasses yielded remains pertaining to Diptera and Coleoptera. The presence of Cochliomyia macellaria (Diptera, Calliphoridae), Sarcophaga sp. (Diptera, Sarcophagidae) and Synthesiomyia nudiseta (Diptera, Muscidae) suggest an initial colonisation in the open, while other species typical of later phases of the colonisation-including Hydrotaea aenescens (Diptera, Muscidae) and members of the family Phoridae-suggest that the carcasses were subsequently buried. Despite the evident importance of camelids to Andean populations, both historically and archaeologically, this is the first time that entomology has been used to examine animal sacrifice methods in this area, and comprises a watershed in the development of multidisciplinary approaches to sacrificial rites in ancient Peru.
Resumen Durante la campaña de excavaciones del año 2014, miembros del equipo del Proyecto Ychsma ... more Resumen Durante la campaña de excavaciones del año 2014, miembros del equipo del Proyecto Ychsma excavaron el Edificio B15. Esta pequeña estructura situada dentro de la Segunda Muralla del santuario de Pachacamac se reveló decorada con pinturas murales. Se trata de los primeros murales descubiertos en el sitio arqueológico desde 1938. En ellos se pue-den apreciar dibujos polícromos de peces, plantas, motivos geométricos e incluso un personaje humano. La campaña de excavaciones del 2016 completó este descubrimiento con un rico material pictórico consistente en pinceles, motas, cuencos con pintura, panes de pigmento y un batán. Tanto el contexto arqueológico como el estilo y la temática de la decoración sugieren una datación alrededor del inicio del siglo XVI; es decir, al final del Horizonte Tardío. El valor excepcional de estas pinturas nos ha llevado a realizar un profundo estudio de la estratigrafía de las capas pictó-ricas presentes sobre muros y adobes caídos, así como análisis en laboratorio. Este revela que los murales debieron ser en su gran mayoría de color rojo con dibujos amarillos delineados en negro; así también encontramos dibujos de color ocre, verde claro y verde brillante, blanco e incluso un tono celeste. Las numerosas superposiciones de capas pictóricas indican que las pinturas debieron renovarse, variando colores y motivos decorativos, sin necesariamente seguir el mismo patrón para todos los muros. En cuanto a la gama cromática, se obtuvo a partir de pigmentos minerales; salvo para el negro compuesto por carbón. Las mezclas colorantes debieron preparase in situ con herramientas fabricadas a partir de materias vegetales locales y, en el caso de los pinceles, con pelo de camélido. Estos primeros resultados están siendo en la actualidad confirmados y completados por análisis del material encontrado durante la campaña del 2016.
Abstract PAINTINGS AND PAINTERS AT PACHACAMAC: A MULTIDISCIPLINARY STUDY OF BUILDING B15 The Ychsma Project´s 2014 excavations at Pachacamac focused on an unusual structure, dubbed Building B15. The structure is located within the site´s Sacred Precinct, and is notable for being extensively decorated with mural paintings; this is the first time that wall paintings have been found at the site since 1938. Numerous designs have been noted, ranging from zoomorphic to dendriform, geometric and anthropomorphic motifs. Further discoveries of brushes, cotton
Eeckhout, P. (2019). Before Lima: the Rímac-Lurín area on the eve of Spanish conquest. In E. Eng... more Eeckhout, P. (2019). Before Lima: the Rímac-Lurín area on the eve of Spanish conquest. In E. Engel (Ed.) A Companion to Early Modern Lima, pp.46-81. Leiden: Brill Academic Publishers.
ABSTRACT- Late prehispanic society in the Lima area has mainly been studied and described on the basis of ethnohistorical sources. However, the past decade has seen growing interest in the archaeology , while burgeoning rescue archaeology and heritage management programs have resulted in greatly increased archaeological data resources. This essay aims to synthesize archaeological and historical data in order to provide a holistic picture of the socio-political organisation of this area under the Inca Empire.
Erratum: instead of Yarushka 2014 (notes 18 and 27) , the correct reference is the following: Pebe Niebuhr, Helen Yarushka. 2014. "El Complejo arqueológico monumental de Mateo Salado y su relación con el proyecto circuito turístico nocturno de Lima". Logos 4(1) : 1-16.
Popular write up about the latest discoveries of th Ychsma Project at Pachacamac, with color phot... more Popular write up about the latest discoveries of th Ychsma Project at Pachacamac, with color photos ;-)
IEEE Xplore digital library (IEEE/IET Electronic Library)., 2018
This paper intends a first methodological look at representing the non-visible in a large scale a... more This paper intends a first methodological look at representing the non-visible in a large scale archaeological site, Pachacamac (Peru). The digitization based on aerial photogrammetry and ground-penetrating radar (GPR) using unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) results in a large volume of data. These data are often used to register the state of the constructions at the moment of the capture (photogrammetry) or for the archaeological prospective (GPR). Our approach proposes to extend the use of such types of big data to gain better knowledge about the logics of urban planning in a context of a heritage study.
Images in Action: the Southern Andean Iconographic Series, 2018
Abstract (by Bill Isbell, editor) : Chapter 18, by Peter Eeckhout, examines the Southern Andean I... more Abstract (by Bill Isbell, editor) : Chapter 18, by Peter Eeckhout, examines the Southern Andean Iconographic Series (SAIS)—and specifically Wari’s—impact on Peru’s central coast, read from ceramic styles and archaeological chronology. This involves controversial topics that have been pointedly contested during the past decade or so. Dorothy Menzel’s influential seriation and interpretation of Wari and its Middle Horizon ceramic styles concluded that the central coast became a prominent focus of Wari power in Epoch 1B, as documented by the highland-influenced Nievería style, found around Lima. Wari control reached its maximum in Middle Horizon Epoch 2, probably when Wari established or assumed control over the oracle housed in the Old Temple of Pachacamac. However, as Eeckhout notes, the Middle Horizon and subsequent phases on central coast prehistory are very poorly published. There continues to be confusion about basic concepts, definitions, and chronological units. Furthermore, there are startlingly few radiocarbon dates to help synchronize stylistic relations throughout this immensely complicated and important region of the central Andean past. In this chapter, Eeckhout undertakes descriptive redefinitions of the major ceramic styles and proposes their most probable chronological relations based on current understandings of style and stratigraphy. To resolve the question of whether some styles were introduced or heavily influenced by Wari, he goes on not only to evaluate their relationships to Wari but to also suggest their most probable absolute dates. This establishes a valuable new synthesis for Peru’s Middle Horizon central coast. The styles treated are Lima, Nievería, Pachacamac, Epigonal, Teatino, Casma/Supe Press-Molded, Three-Color Geometric, and the Early Ychsma style. (Sorry for the low PDF quality-uploading problems ;-)
I N C A: Textiles and Ornaments of the Andes, 2018
Short popular synthesis about the relationship between textiles and funerary contexts in the Cen... more Short popular synthesis about the relationship between textiles and funerary contexts in the Central Andes-Exhibition Catalog Chapter.
Pachacamac es un sitio importante de la costa central peruana, ocupado desde el siglo V hasta el ... more Pachacamac es un sitio importante de la costa central peruana, ocupado desde el siglo V hasta el siglo XVI dne. Esta presentación mostrará los resultados del análisis de los restos de fauna recuperados en el edificio B15 durante las temporadas de excavación 2014 y 2016 dentro del marco del Proyecto Ychsma (Université Libre de Bruxelles).El edificio B15 esta, compuesto por siete recintos dentro de los cuales se encontraron diferentes contextos de ofrendas de varios materiales: metal, cerámica, lítico, malacológico, entre otros, asociados a diferentes momentos de ocupación del edificio, lo que estaría indicando la función ritual y sagrada de esta construcción. Dentro de estos contextos de ofrendas, se registró gran cantidad de restos de óseo animal, especialmente de camélidos y cuyes. El excepcional estado de conservación de las evidencias permite abordar aspectos poco documentados, como el color del pelaje de los animales sacrificados y la salud del ganado, así como una reconstrucción de los procesos rituales. Uno de los contextos más significativos fue el hallazgo de un camélido casi completo, asociado al relleno del recinto principal del edificio B-15. Los objetivos del análisis faunístico plantearon principalmente, (1) la identificación de las especies ofrendadas así como el análisis cualitativo y cuantitativo de las partes de los restos de animales escogidos para ofrendar; (2) corroborar si existe un patrón en los tipos de ofrendas y especies encontradas entre los diferentes recintos del edificio B15 y (3) de esta manera tratar de identificar si existe una relación entre el tipo de ofrendas y la función de los recintos así como los posibles motivos que llevaron a realizar estas ofrendas. Los resultados preliminares de nuestra investigación revelan la predominancia de algunas especies animales como camélidos o cuyes, también se observa la presencia de especies que hasta la fecha han sido muy poco reportadas en otros sectores del sitio de Pachacamac (batracio, lobo marino). El análisis ha demostrado gran variabilidad en cantidad y distribución de las ofrendas animales dentro del edificio, y que los mismos se encuentran en su mayoría completos y sin marcas de corte. Este tipo de ofrendas animales para la costa central del Perú, no ese encuentran bien documentados y sólo han sido, hasta ahora, objeto de un número limitado de estudios, los datos obtenidos en esta primera investigación serán complementados con el análisis total de los restos faunísticos recuperados por el Proyecto Ychsma en los diferentes sectores de Pachacamac desde finales de los noventa, lo que permitirá llenar este vacío en las investigaciones arqueozoológicas del Perú.
We carried out entomological analyses of a series of 21 burials from the Ychsma horizon at the Pe... more We carried out entomological analyses of a series of 21 burials from the Ychsma horizon at the Peruvian coastal site of Pachacamac. We found calliphorid flies and dermestid beetles. The time lapse between death and burial at Pachacamac had been sufficiently prolonged in order to allow calliphorid infestation of the head, and complete cranial tissue removal before burial. This indicates that the bodies were not wrapped, nor were calliphorid larvae removed from bodies prior to burial. Bodies were buried before all soft tissues were removed, as indicated by the presence of large numbers of dermestids (that feed on dried tissues). This may have been a deliberate funerary practice. Archaeological, ethnohistorical and entomological data demonstrate that corpses were exposed for significant periods after death and before burial. Our sample indicates that this was a common practice at Pachacamac. This practice – known in the Colonial Period – likely had origins in the Middle Horizon. It is possible that the mythical function attributed to certain insects could have played a role in the overall process.
This volume contains the following articles, research reports, and obituaries: "Earl Henry Lubens... more This volume contains the following articles, research reports, and obituaries: "Earl Henry Lubensky (March 31, 1921 - May 1, 2009)" by Deborah M. Pearsall; "Juan (Hans) Santiago Rene Schobinger (February 18, 1928 - July 11, 2009)" by Constanza Ceruti; "A Changing Society? Craft Specialization and Complementarity Systems during the Formative Period in the Cochabamba Valley, Bolivia" by Olga U. Gabelmann; "Moche Architectural Vessels: Small Structures Big Implications" by Juliet Wiersema; "The Well and the Huaca: Ceremony, Chronology, and Culture Change at Huaca Cao Viejo, Chicama Valley, Peru" by Jeffrey Quilter, Regulo Franco J., Cesar Galvez M., William Doonan, Catherine Gaither, Victor F. Vasquez S., Teresa E. Rosales T., Jaime Jimenez S., Hal Starratt, and Michele L. Koons; "Adobe Bricks and Labor Organization on the North Coast of Peru" by Howard I. Tsai; "A Bioarchaeological Study of Coca Use and Coca Leaf Chewing at Puruchuco-Huaquerones, Peru" by Melissa S. Murphy and Maria Fernanda Boza; "The Destruction of the Yurac Rumi Shrine (Vilcabamba, Cusco Department)" by Brian S. Bauer, Miriam Dayde Araoz Silva, and George S. Burr; "Inca Storage and Accounting Facilities at Pachacamac" by Peter Eeckhout; "Regional Associations and a Ceramic Assemblage from the Fourteenth Century Llanos de Mojos" by John H. Walker; "Recent Excavations at the Late Intermediate Period Village of Yanaorco in the Cajamarca Highlands" by Jason L. Toohy; "A Colonial Human Burial Excavated in 1965 between Portals 5 and 6 at Huanuco Pampa" by Monica Barnes, Catherine Gaither, Robert A. Benfer, Jr., and Daniel Shea; "Mitomarca: A Possible Fortification in the Upper Huallaga Basin" by Yuichi Matsumoto, Jason S. Nesbitt, and Denesy Palacio J.; "An Initial Period Domestic Occupation at Huaca Cortada, Caballo Muerto Complex" by Jason S. Nesbitt; "Marine Exploitation and Paleoenvironment as Viewed through Molluscan Resources at the Early Horizon Center of Huambacho, Nepena Valley, Coastal Ancash" by David Chicoine and Carol Rojas; "Architecture in the Coastal Desert" by Simon Urbina A., Leonor Adan A., and Estefania Vidal M.; "La Bolsa 1 Site, Tafi Valley, Tucuman Province: Household Mortuary Practices in a South Andean Village (First Millennium A.D.)" by Julian Salazar.
Pachacamac is a major site of the Peruvian central coast, occupied from the fifth to the sixteent... more Pachacamac is a major site of the Peruvian central coast, occupied from the fifth to the sixteenth century AD. This presentation will report the results of an on-going analysis of faunal remains recovered during the 2016 excavation campaign within the framework of the Ychsma Project. Amongst the considerable amount of material, an almost complete camelid skeleton in a very good state of conservation was discovered. The room 4 of the B15 building where it was located is a building that had a ritual function. Other offerings were found nearby: numerous bones of camelids but also of other species like guinea pigs or shells. The detailed zooarchaeological analysis that we carried out on the above mentioned camelid has enabled us to identify the species sacrificed, to estimate its age, to determine the colour of its hair, how it was sacrificed and its orientation and position within the context. The current study has provided preliminary insights into the practice of sacrifice and offerings of camelids (the most important domesticated species in Peru at that time) on the site of Pachacamac but also on the potential breeding practices. Such offerings of camelids on the central coast of Peru are not yet well documented and have only been so far the subject of a limited number of studies. The gained insights will be further corroborated by the continuation of the zooarchaelogical analysis of the faunal remains accumulated since the beginning of the Ychsma project in the late nineties.
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https://www.fnac.com/SearchResult/ResultList.aspx?SCat=0&Search=eeckhout+patrimoine&sft=1&sa=0
Luis Jaime Castillo Butters
Peter Eeckhout
Christine Hastorf
Abigail Levine
George F. Lau
Frank Meddens
Charles S. Stanish
Edward Swenson
Gary Urton
Francisco Valdez
This is the pre-print version of the introduction, for the complete book :
https://upf.com/book.asp?id=9780813066448
http://www.cambridge.org/be/academic/subjects/archaeology/archaeology-americas/funerary-practices-and-models-ancient-andes-return-living-dead
Papers
Objective: To investigate evidence for maxillary sinusitis and pulmonary inflammation in archaeological skeletons dating to the Late Intermediate Period (AD 1000-1476) at the site of Pachacamac, Peru.
Materials: Thirty-nine individuals (male, female, and unknown sex; 16+ years age-at-death) were analyzed for inflammatory periosteal reaction (IPR) on the visceral (inner) surfaces of the ribs, and 16 individuals were analyzed for evidence of maxillary sinusitis.
Methods: All individuals were macroscopically examined for bony changes in the maxillary sinuses and new bone formation on the ribs according to pre-established criteria.
Results: Some 33.3% (13/39) of individuals had IPR on the ribs and 93.8% (15/16) had bony changes in the maxillary sinuses.
Conclusions: Respiratory disease was likely prevalent in people buried at Pachacamac during the Late Intermediate Period. A number of factors may have increased the risk of developing respiratory disease, including exposure to poor air quality and increased crowding and social mixing, resulting from pilgrimage to this important ritual center.
Significance: This paper represents one of the first systematic analyses of evidence for respiratory disease in Peruvian and South American human skeletal remains, demonstrating the suitability of the region for further study.
Limitations: A limited sample was available for analysis. Additionally, the site’s skeletal preservation was excellent, meaning the sample available for assessment of maxillary sinusitis was smaller, being limited to in-dividuals with post-mortem breakage.
Further Research: The results of this study should stimulate further much needed systematic investigation of evidence for respiratory disease in other Peruvian and South American populations.
Keywords:
Maxillary sinusitis, Rib lesions, Pleural disease, Periosteal reaction, Pre-Columbian, Andean
function. It appears that these objects are associated with certain important ancestors, whom their descendants worshiped. They were active agents, participants in the ritual traditions discussed ethnohistorically. The false head plays a crucial role in the relationship between the dead and the living and sheds light on the specific ontological position of the dead in the ancient Andes.
KEYWORDS Ancestor cult; artefact agency; funerary patterns; mummies; Ychsma; Andean archaeology
Abstract PAINTINGS AND PAINTERS AT PACHACAMAC: A MULTIDISCIPLINARY STUDY OF BUILDING B15 The Ychsma Project´s 2014 excavations at Pachacamac focused on an unusual structure, dubbed Building B15. The structure is located within the site´s Sacred Precinct, and is notable for being extensively decorated with mural paintings; this is the first time that wall paintings have been found at the site since 1938. Numerous designs have been noted, ranging from zoomorphic to dendriform, geometric and anthropomorphic motifs. Further discoveries of brushes, cotton
ABSTRACT- Late prehispanic society in the Lima area has mainly been studied and described on the basis of ethnohistorical sources. However, the past decade has seen growing interest in the archaeology , while burgeoning rescue archaeology and heritage management programs have resulted in greatly increased archaeological data resources. This essay aims to synthesize archaeological and historical data in order to provide a holistic picture of the socio-political organisation of this area under the Inca Empire.
Erratum: instead of Yarushka 2014 (notes 18 and 27) , the correct reference is the following:
Pebe Niebuhr, Helen Yarushka. 2014. "El Complejo arqueológico monumental de Mateo Salado y su relación con el proyecto circuito turístico nocturno de Lima". Logos 4(1) : 1-16.
https://www.fnac.com/SearchResult/ResultList.aspx?SCat=0&Search=eeckhout+patrimoine&sft=1&sa=0
Luis Jaime Castillo Butters
Peter Eeckhout
Christine Hastorf
Abigail Levine
George F. Lau
Frank Meddens
Charles S. Stanish
Edward Swenson
Gary Urton
Francisco Valdez
This is the pre-print version of the introduction, for the complete book :
https://upf.com/book.asp?id=9780813066448
http://www.cambridge.org/be/academic/subjects/archaeology/archaeology-americas/funerary-practices-and-models-ancient-andes-return-living-dead
Objective: To investigate evidence for maxillary sinusitis and pulmonary inflammation in archaeological skeletons dating to the Late Intermediate Period (AD 1000-1476) at the site of Pachacamac, Peru.
Materials: Thirty-nine individuals (male, female, and unknown sex; 16+ years age-at-death) were analyzed for inflammatory periosteal reaction (IPR) on the visceral (inner) surfaces of the ribs, and 16 individuals were analyzed for evidence of maxillary sinusitis.
Methods: All individuals were macroscopically examined for bony changes in the maxillary sinuses and new bone formation on the ribs according to pre-established criteria.
Results: Some 33.3% (13/39) of individuals had IPR on the ribs and 93.8% (15/16) had bony changes in the maxillary sinuses.
Conclusions: Respiratory disease was likely prevalent in people buried at Pachacamac during the Late Intermediate Period. A number of factors may have increased the risk of developing respiratory disease, including exposure to poor air quality and increased crowding and social mixing, resulting from pilgrimage to this important ritual center.
Significance: This paper represents one of the first systematic analyses of evidence for respiratory disease in Peruvian and South American human skeletal remains, demonstrating the suitability of the region for further study.
Limitations: A limited sample was available for analysis. Additionally, the site’s skeletal preservation was excellent, meaning the sample available for assessment of maxillary sinusitis was smaller, being limited to in-dividuals with post-mortem breakage.
Further Research: The results of this study should stimulate further much needed systematic investigation of evidence for respiratory disease in other Peruvian and South American populations.
Keywords:
Maxillary sinusitis, Rib lesions, Pleural disease, Periosteal reaction, Pre-Columbian, Andean
function. It appears that these objects are associated with certain important ancestors, whom their descendants worshiped. They were active agents, participants in the ritual traditions discussed ethnohistorically. The false head plays a crucial role in the relationship between the dead and the living and sheds light on the specific ontological position of the dead in the ancient Andes.
KEYWORDS Ancestor cult; artefact agency; funerary patterns; mummies; Ychsma; Andean archaeology
Abstract PAINTINGS AND PAINTERS AT PACHACAMAC: A MULTIDISCIPLINARY STUDY OF BUILDING B15 The Ychsma Project´s 2014 excavations at Pachacamac focused on an unusual structure, dubbed Building B15. The structure is located within the site´s Sacred Precinct, and is notable for being extensively decorated with mural paintings; this is the first time that wall paintings have been found at the site since 1938. Numerous designs have been noted, ranging from zoomorphic to dendriform, geometric and anthropomorphic motifs. Further discoveries of brushes, cotton
ABSTRACT- Late prehispanic society in the Lima area has mainly been studied and described on the basis of ethnohistorical sources. However, the past decade has seen growing interest in the archaeology , while burgeoning rescue archaeology and heritage management programs have resulted in greatly increased archaeological data resources. This essay aims to synthesize archaeological and historical data in order to provide a holistic picture of the socio-political organisation of this area under the Inca Empire.
Erratum: instead of Yarushka 2014 (notes 18 and 27) , the correct reference is the following:
Pebe Niebuhr, Helen Yarushka. 2014. "El Complejo arqueológico monumental de Mateo Salado y su relación con el proyecto circuito turístico nocturno de Lima". Logos 4(1) : 1-16.