Ancient Peru Research Articles

Animating Idolatry: Making Ancestral Kin and Personhood in Ancient Peru

Historical and archaeological records help shed light on the production, ritual practices, and personhood of cult objects characterizing the central Peruvian highlands after ca. AD 200. Colonial accounts indicate that descendant groups made and venerated stone images of esteemed forebears as part of small-scale local funerary cults. Prayers and supplications help illuminate how different artifact forms were seen as honored family members (forebears, elders, parents, siblings). Archaeology, meanwhile, shows the close associations between carved monoliths, tomb repositories, and restricted cult spaces. The converging lines of evidence are consistent with the hypothesis that production of stone images was the purview of family/lineage groups. As the cynosures of cult activity and devotion, the physical forms of ancestor effigies enabled continued physical engagements, which vitalized both the idol and descendant group.

Singa Transitional: Rock-artSaywasMarking Boundaries of Identity and Socializing Landscape in Huánuco, Peru

This paper introduces a new art style, Singa Transitional, found painted onto a mountainside near the modern town of Singa in the north of Huánuco, Peru. This style was discovered during a recent regional survey of rock art in the Huánuco region that resulted in the documentation of paintings at more than 20 sites, the identification of their chronological contexts and an analysis of the resulting data for trends in changing social practices over nine millennia. I explore how the style emerged from both regional artistic trends in the medium and broader patterns evident in Andean material culture from multiple media at the time of its creation. I argue that the presence of Singa Transitional demonstrates that local peoples were engaged in broader social trends unfolding during the transition between the Early Horizon (800–200bc) and the Early Intermediate Period (ad0–800) in Peru. I propose that rock art placed in prominent places was consideredsaywa, a type of landscape feature that marked boundaries in and movement through landscapes. Singa Transitionalsaywasserved to advertise the connection between local Andean people and their land and was a medium through which social changes were contested in the Andes.

Farklı Kültürlerde Kullanılan Moti̇flerin ve Giysi Formlarının Günümüz Giysi Tasarımlarına Yansıması; Peru Örneği

Hand woven fabrics and the patterns that they bear, are important examples of cultural heritage; reflecting the culture, customs and traditions of the communities, and the thoughts and emotions of the weaver. Peru, on account of the traditional woven fabrics, the colors used and the patterns with their unique language and meaning, has an esteemed stance in the history of woven and knitted fabrics. These woven fabrics, reflecting a strong national cultural identity; echo economic, social, political and religious developments. Establishing the continuity of the handicrafts; which exemplify the expression of economic, social and artistic transformation and are passed on through past and future generations; is possible by supporting knowledge by protecting, developing and sharing it. In this article, the manner of how traditional patterns and colors from different cultures affect current forms of garments are examined. In addition to this, along with a different perspective, novel clothing designs have been made based on the patterns and clothing forms present in Peruvian culture. Regarding the work within the scope of the study, the inspirational characteristic features of the traditional forms have been intended to be preserved, but the raw materials used, the techniques, colors and elements that make up the clothing design have been altered within the framework of aesthetic cognition. The designs have been attempted to be made universal, keeping in mind the memorability of pattern oriented consciousness.

Vertical Archaeology: Safety in the Use of Ropes for Scientific Research of Pre-Columbian Andean Cultures.

Scientific research is sometimes subjected to go through field study in places that are difficult to access. Where man has not managed to reach through traditional techniques, work at height systems offer new possibilities, provide safety in exploration and represent an excellent tool that allows a new insight of spaces object of scientific research. For more than 20 years, the Ukhupacha team has been studying, analyzing and selecting the teams, techniques and rope progression systems that best adapt to archaeological works in vertical environments. The projects studied are developed in Pre-Columbian cultures of the Andean mountain range, the high Amazon jungle and its surroundings. As a result, a new working methodology called Vertical Archaeology has been developed. It prioritizes user’s safety by means of ropes when accessing archaeological research areas. The recommended and safest systems, techniques and personal protective equipment (PPE) are presented for each of the phases in which it is proposed to divide archaeological investigations: exploration, training and expedition. Using rope access techniques has allowed the safe study of new artistic and heritage aspects in ancient civilizations, as well as the approach of the scientific community to places that until now had remained hidden.

Andean Mesas and Cosmologies

The purpose of the present paper is to focus on aspects of Andean culture- mesas or shamans’ altars-demonstrating how, in ritual contexts, they effectively express grass-roots cosmological principles. The baseline for this approach was provided by Sharon's (1976) survey of the anthropological literature on Latin American mesas and his suggestion that they often function as projections of indigenous cosmologies (Sharon 1978, 183-196). The current review is an updating of the survey for the Central Andes (Sharon 2006). It includes ethnographic reports from Ecuador, northern Peru, southern Peru, Bolivia, and Chile. Although the information will be grouped into a north-south framework this is not meant to imply a causal relationship.

Astronomical Investigation to Verify the Calendar Theory of the Nasca Lines

As in many regions of the world, astronomy also played a major role in the ancient Peruvian cultures. However, the discussion of the astronomical relevance of the Nasca geoglyphs is very controversial. A really precise and extensive investigation of astronomical phenomena has not yet taken place; the necessary data were simply missing. In the Nasca project Dresden, these data have been recorded in recent years and stored in an Oracle database. In the very first step, all geoglyphs with an astronomical orientation documented by Maria Reiche were checked and verified. Subsequently, all lines of the entity “straight line” were systematically examined with regard to the celestial bodies of the Sun and bright stars. For this purpose, on the one hand, the ellipsoidal azimuths of all straight lines were calculated and, on the other hand, the elevation angles in relation to the horizon with the help of digital terrain models (DTM) were determined. Corrections for refraction, the curvature of the Earth, visibility and atmospheric disturbances were largely considered. The azimuths of the celestial bodies during the Nasca period were calculated with software developed in-house (theses by students) and compared with those of the lines. As a result, it was possible to establish that there are individual straight lines that are aligned with the Sun and the seven randomly selected bright stars. However, the number of hits found does not justify the theory that the Nasca Pampas are an astronomical calendar system.

〈Chicago Report〉The World Without Tall Buildings:Baltic Countries, Costa Rica, Ireland, Ancient Inca (Peru) and Ancient Egypt

〈Chicago Report〉The World Without Tall Buildings:Baltic Countries, Costa Rica, Ireland, Ancient Inca (Peru) and Ancient Egypt

MAXIMO LAURA: A TAPESTRY ARTIST FROM PERU

There are cultural traces of many civilizations in Peruvian territory. Looking at the historical examples in terms of textile, we encounter a rich textile history with the use of vivid colors and figurative expressions. These textiles with pictorial expressions are considered as the first examples of Tapestry weavings. The reason why weaving artist Maximo Laura was chosen as the subject in this study is that the artist is nourished by the values of the land he was raised in and reflects his own culture in contemporary art works with original expressions. By combining the traditional production method of tapestry rug weaving with the technique developed by himself, strong use of colors and figurative expressions, he has become internationally recognized and accepted. In this research, in addition to the verbal and written communication with Maximo Laura, many sources were reviewed, the articles and exhibition catalogs published in the international field were examined, the data obtained from the Maximo Laura Museum archive, which contains the works and information of the artist, were evaluated, and this study was completed. The traditional techniques used by the artist and the weaving forms developed by him were discussed in detail, the colors and symbolic approaches he used, the new and different applications he made, and his future thoughts were discussed with him. The aim is; to convey the artist from all aspects, who produces and has international recognition, to the reader who is interested in different textile fields, to establish a bridge between cultures while introducing today's tapestry art, artist's works and world view in the context of Peruvian culture. Keywords: Maximo Laura, Tapestry, Peruvian Textiles, Andean Textiles

Antimicrobial effect of tunta (Solanum juzepczukii) on Salmonella enterica subspecies enterica serovar Typhimurium

The objective of the study was to investigate the antimicrobial activity of tunta on Salmonella enterica subspecies enterica serovar Typhimurium. A natural isolate of this bacterium was used that was resistant to chloramphenicol. The experiment required the preparation of a standard solution of 0,8 g / ml of tunta extract. The Kirby Bauer technique was used for the antimicrobial evaluation of the tests and the Duraffourd scale to measure the level of sensitivity. Resulting, for the ten technical repetitions of the experimental group, an average halo of 10,40 mm and a standard deviation of 0,63 of DHI (level of limit sensitivity, according to said scale). In conclusion, our work shows evidence that tunta has an antimicrobial effect at a borderline sensitivity level on Salmonella enterica subspecies enterica serovar Typhimurium. After more in-depth research, this derivative of Solanum Jueepczukii could become an alternative for the development of antibiotics of natural origin and allow a sustainable development of Andean cultures.

El "ethos" discursivo del Inca Garcilaso a través del Análisis Crítico del Discurso

El propósito del artículo es examinar cómo el Inca Garcilaso de la Vega construye su ethos discursivo en Los comentarios reales de los incas y cuáles eran las intenciones implícitas de su proyecto. Siguiendo la metodología del Análisis Crítico del Discurso, este trabajo lleva a cabo un estudio de los elementos deícticos ‘otro’, ‘yo’, ‘tú’, ‘nosotros’ inclusivo. Los resultados explican que esta obra historiográfica puede entenderse, gracias a la retórica del autor, más bien como una sutil invitación a la búsqueda colectiva de justicia y armonía entre las culturas andina y occidental.

Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.): Exploring a Superfood from Andean Indigenous Cultures with Potential to Reduce Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) Risk Markers.

The pseudo-cereal quinoa has attracted worldwide attention in recent years, due to it being considered a functional food. This stress-tolerant crop has historically been used by Andean cultures as a staple food. Nowadays, the consumption of quinoa in high-income countries is increasing due to it being associated with numerous health benefits, namely related to cardiovascular health. We have carried out an extensive review on quinoa, including its main uses, applications, and components (nutrients, antinutrients, and bioactives) and their relationship with biological activities and cardiovascular health. Key findings and Conclusions: Quinoa possesses numerous activities, including protection against cardiovascular, metabolic, and degenerative diseases, improvement of the immune system, reduction of symptoms associated with post-menopause, and promotion of muscle mass increase. Some of the quinoa's activities are due to its balanced amino acid profile, high fiber content, presence of phosphorus, iron, potassium, magnesium, vitamin E, and B vitamins. A plethora of bioactives can also be found in quinoa, such as phytosterols, saponins, phenolics, bioactive peptides, and phytoecdysteroids. More research is needed to better understand the mechanisms of action involved in the biological/therapeutic action of some quinoa components, namely those related to the potential to reduce cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk markers. The knowledge of factors that affect quinoa variability, such as processing conditions, is also of great importance for being able to obtain more benefits from this crop.

Arguedas: Capital y conversión

In Jose Maria Arguedas's anthropological studies of Peru's southern central highlands, transculturation codes the historical logic of capital. The present essay takes, as its point of departure, Latin American subalternist critics who, in the 1990s and 2000s, identified the supposedly homogenizing logic of capital with that of transculturation or mestizaje as state ideology. By contrast, more recent interventions in postcolonial and Marxist theory suggest that what was at stake for Andean society and culture was not its wholesale destruction or incorporation into the nation-state, but rather the expedience of its preservation for the accumulation of capital. Arguedas's treatment of transculturation as a question of the so-called total conversion of the subject of highland property into a bourgeois individual mirrors the kind of anthropological transformation that Marx posited as part of the historical arc of capitalism's development and supposedly imminent demise. By underscoring the moment of total conversion as a semblance necessary for capturing non-capitalist ways of life, Arguedas's studies provide a space for considering the subjective effects of capital beyond teleological or reductive understandings of its historical unfolding.

The “Inca Utopia” in the Novel “Letters from a Peruvian Woman” by F. De Graffigny

The article considers the French novel “Letters from a Peruvian Woman&8j1; (Lettres d’une Péruvienne, 1747) by Françoise de Graffigny, as well as the “Historical introduction…&8j1; (Introduction historique aux lettres péruviennes), which was included into the novel in 1752, and where the Inca Empire is described in an idealized way. The main source of information for F. de Graffigny was “The Royal commentaries of the Incas&8j1; by Garcilaso de la Vega (1609) and other philosophical, critical and fictional publications on American natives: Michel de Montaigne’s essays, the tragedy “Alzira, or the Americans&8j1; by Voltaire, etc. The “Historical introduction...&8j1; praises the wealth and wisdom of the Incas, the merits of their state organization. This article claims that the “Historical introduction…&8j1; plays an important ideological and compositional role in F. de Graffigny’s book: a utopian description of the Inca Empire serves as a specific philosophical frame for the novel with a love story. Ideas concerning the empire of the ancient Incas, as reflected in the fictional “Letters from a Peruvian Woman&8j1;, are congenial with the Age of Enlightenment.

Rise of the Andean civilization: bioarchaeological approaches to health and death during the Formative Period in Peru

Rise of the Andean civilization: bioarchaeological approaches to health and death during the Formative Period in Peru

Preface to the special issue on Humans, Animals and Societies of Andean Civilization

Preface to the special issue on Humans, Animals and Societies of Andean Civilization

Vender lo andino: Arqueología, diseño y mercado en la obra de Elena Izcue

This article explores the visual cultural production of the Peruvian artist Elena Izcue and its origins in archaeology's visions of Indigenous material culture. Izcue was trained in visual arts during the heyday of indigenismo in Peru and much of her practice emerges from indigenista visual representations as well as approaches to Indigenous cultures. In particular, this article considers how Izcue's work at a generative moment for archaeology in Latin America—the 1930s and 40s—sought to mobilize cultural manifestations of Andean Indigenous culture beyond nationalism and instead located them squarely in the realm of the market, thus transforming lo andino into a valuable cultural good. Izcue's production of goods, and later her oversight of training for workers who produced Indigenous-inspired merchandise in Peru, embodies a significant example of engaging art practices with both market demands as well as cultural policy. These activities on Izcue's part prefigure later, more massive commodification that characterizes the recent positioning of Andean cultures in global markets.

Emplazamientos iniciales, expansión y convergencia del quechua, aimara y puquina

El pasado histórico de las lenguas mayores del antiguo Perú, principalmente de las lenguas andinas, sigue en constante discusión, a pesar de tener un arraigo académico que se remonta con más énfasis a mediados del siglo pasado. Los encuentros académicos de Cambritge (2008), Lima (2009) y Leipzing (2011) expresan su preocupación en revisar el cuadro interpretativo del desarrollo social y evolutivo de la realidad lingüística andina; razón por la cual, ofrecemos algunos trabajos al respecto.

Exchanged Languages and Anachronistic Translations The Case of Descripción del virreinato del Perú, en particular de Lima

Descripción del virreinato del Perú, en particular de Lima was written in Spanish during the first half of the 17th century by an unknown author. The manuscript was found in Paris and presented by Riva Agüero in 1914. Underlying the 2009 and 2013 editions is the thesis that the anonymous author would have been a Portuguese New Christian who travelled through the Spanish empire during the period of union between the Iberian thrones in parallel with the established legal separation. Just as Pratt used the Andean manuscript of Guaman Poma de Ayala in applying the concepts of “contact zone”, this article utilises her theories to try to understand why this supposed Portuguese individual used the Spanish language in his description of the territory of ancient Peru.

Exchanged Languages and Anachronistic Translations The Case of Descripción del virreinato del Perú, en particular de Lima

Descripción del virreinato del Perú, en particular de Lima was written in Spanish during the first half of the 17th century by an unknown author. The manuscript was found in Paris and presented by Riva Agüero in 1914. Underlying the 2009 and 2013 editions is the thesis that the anonymous author would have been a Portuguese New Christian who travelled through the Spanish empire during the period of union between the Iberian thrones in parallel with the established legal separation. Just as Pratt used the Andean manuscript of Guaman Poma de Ayala in applying the concepts of “contact zone”, this article utilises her theories to try to understand why this supposed Portuguese individual used the Spanish language in his description of the territory of ancient Peru.

Dos conceptos andinos para pensar la sociedad contemporánea:

Este trabajo propone un diálogo intercultural entre conceptos de dos lenguas y dos culturas. Partiendo de la dificultad de traducir la palabra del español ‘pobre’ a la lengua quechua por no tener esta un concepto de significado similar, se analiza su traducción impropia como ‘wakcha’ que significa originalmente ‘huérfano’. La hipótesis planteada sugiere que la diferencia y dificultad de traducción revela algunas claves que ayudan a comprender la cosmovisión implícita en la cultura y lengua andina, así como la propia cultura y cosmovisión implícita en las sociedades latinoamericanas contemporáneas.