La diversidad local frente a la «Cultura Chachapoya» en la arquitectura doméstica

Abstract

Thiis article critiques the notion that pre-Inka societies across Chachapoyas shared a common tradition of domestic architecture that distinguished them from neighboring regions. This notion frequently appears in regional scholarship as a means by which to identify the presence of culturally «Chachapoya» groups, and it has gained special prominence in light of mounting evidence that considerable local variation existed in other forms of material culture in Chachapoyas, such as fineware ceramics and cliff-tomb burials. In terms of domestic architecture, three features in particular—cornices, friezes, and platform bases—are often cited as typifying a «Chachapoya» architectural tradition. Yet a detailed comparison of studies from several major sub-regions—including Luya, the Leymebamba-Chuquibamba districts, and the Sonche Basin—reveals considerable variation in architectural attributes. Indeed, in some areas the typical «Chachapoya» features are absent altogether. In contrast to other forms of material culture in which local variations are, in fact, recognized, the tendency to perceive a supposed homogeneity of domestic architecture reflects common theoretical frameworks in archaeology. Recognizing the local architectural diversity present in Chachapoyas, however, promises to enrich contemporary understandings of the cultural and social diversity that characterized this region prior to Inka conquest, and will help problematize the cultural and analytical construction of the concept of «Chachapoyas» in the past and present.