The Archaeology of Musical Bamboos: Native Bamboos and Pre-Hispanic Flutes on the Andean Altiplano around Lake Titicaca (A First Approximation)

Abstract

• Bamboo use in pre-Hispanic flute making on the Andean Altiplano spread during the Early and Late Intermediate (AD 100–1470) periods. • The emergence of the participatory tradition of Andean wind music on the Altiplano was linked to a more widespread bamboo use in pre-Hispanic flute making. • Pre-Hispanic flute makers on the Andean Altiplano used native Andean woody bamboos from the neotropical realm. • Native Andean woody bamboos were collected in their natural habitats in montane cloud forests on the eastern slopes of the Tropical Andes. In this first approximation, I discuss the current state of music archaeological knowledge about bamboo-made flutes on the pre-Hispanic Altiplano around Lake Titicaca, triangulating the very scarce archaeological evidence with ethnohistorical and botanical literature and my fieldwork among contemporary highland flute makers from Walata Grande (Omasuyos province, La Paz department). Departing from ethnographic experiences with these specialised flute makers, I delve deeper into the archaeology of musical bamboos on the pre-Hispanic Altiplano around Lake Titicaca. When have bamboos been more widely used in highland flute making on the pre-Hispanic Altiplano? Which musical transformations were generated? Which types of bamboos have been used in pre-Hispanic times? And where and how were these sourced? Moving the attention from finished flutes to bamboos allows me to articulate a “fresh perspective” ( McClure, 1966 ) on the music archaeology of the Andean Altiplano, particularly of the pre-Hispanic Andean cultures of Tiwanaku (AD 100–1000) and ancient Aymaras (CE 1000–1470). Among other arguments, I suggest that the emergence of the now widespread “participatory tradition” ( Turino, 2008 ) of Aymara Andean wind music had a decisive material factor: the expansion of musical bamboo use in highland flute making following the Middle Horizon (AD 600–1000) period.