Analyzing social and political changes throughout the terrace landscapes in Central Andes (Peru). Agrarian Archaeology in the Valley of Sondondo, Peru

Abstract

In Peru, studies of pre-Hispanic terraces have adopted a number of different approaches. In almost all cases, typological and structural views have prevailed to conclusions strongly based on relative chronologies and broad generalizations, especially for the more complex stages of social development, mainly the horizons of the Wari and Inca Empires. Otherwise, some projects have focused on botanical aspects, others on agrarian technologies, while others have concentrated on social and economic relationships.Our team focuses on the study of the agrarian landscapes from Landscape Archaeology and archeological excavations in terraces. In this contribution, we present the data that have permitted identified important changes from the Early Intermediate Period until Inca times in the valley of Sondondo. Moreover, we have begun to conduct phytolith analysis in relation to soil to more fully interpret terrace construction, land use, and their social implications. Our innovative methods not only shed light on the types of crops cultivated, but also demonstrate how agrarian changes can serve as measures of sociopolitical transformations usually analyzed from settlements in the Peruvian Central Andes.The Sondondo´ s communities are still harvesting this landscape and they add a remarkable value into the research, how to connect the research with their requests is an important challenge for Agrarian Archaeology.