Date of Award

Spring 6-13-2025

Document Type

Masters Thesis

Degree Name

M.A. in Anthropology

Organizational Unit

College of Arts Humanities and Social Sciences, Anthropology

First Advisor

Bonnie Clark

Second Advisor

Nicole Herzog

Third Advisor

Trace Reddell

Copyright Statement / License for Reuse

All Rights Reserved
All Rights Reserved.

Keywords

Capacocha, Geographic information systems (GIS), Inca, Least Cost Path, Roads, Viewshed, Map, Andean history

Abstract

This research examines Inca imperial expansion into the Ocoña and Chorunga Valleys, through an investigation of precolonial roads and trails. It focuses on the Middle to Late Horizons (700 BCE-1534 CE), with specific attention to the last 100 years, when the region was occupied by the Inca state and experienced a rapid increase in population and architectural development. Data collected in excavations, and pedestrian, and drone surveys were used in geographic information systems, to map pre-Hispanic road systems. A combination of Least Cost Path and viewshed analyses were used to investigate land use patterns and tie this region into the context of the broader Arequipa region and Andean history. The analysis of roads and the sites associated with them suggests that long-established Andean perceptions of landscape, trade patterns, and land use associated with travel influenced social organization and Inca territorial expansion into this valley region. This thesis shows how the reuse of pre-Inca trails and sacred sites for state sanctioned spiritual activities may have legitimized Inca power in the region, and their claim to the abundant mineral resources there. The huaca Corral Redondo which is the site of a rare low elevation Inca capacocha offering may be an example of this.

Copyright Date

6-2025

Publication Statement

Copyright is held by the author. User is responsible for all copyright compliance.

Rights Holder

Geri Evilla

Provenance

Received from ProQuest

File Format

application/pdf

Language

English (eng)

Extent

92 pgs

File Size

3.9 MB

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