Pichqa and Pisqoyñu: Inca Gaming Paraphernalia from Tambo Viejo, Peru

Abstract

A prevailing image of the Inca State is of an entity largely concerned with production, with little or no time for entertainment activities, such as playing games. While anthropological research demonstrates that an important aspect of being human is playing games, Inca society appears to be anomalous. Sixteenth and seventeenth century chroniclers mentioned Inca games only on occasion, while archaeological research has not been successful enough to recover artifacts that would be associated with Inca games. Recent archaeological excavation carried out at the Inca administrative center of Tambo Viejo, on the south coast of Peru, resulted in the finding of some artifacts that resemble those mentioned by the chroniclers. Here we report the findings with the goal of generating a discussion about this long-ignored topic.