Browsing by Author "Valdez, J. Ernesto"

Now showing 1 - 13 of 13
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    Ancient use of coca leaves in the Peruvian central highlands
    (2015) Valdez, Lidio M.; Taboada, Juan; Valdez, J. Ernesto
    Coca, of the genus Erythroxylum, is a stimulant and painkiller that played key roles within the Inka state. As reported by the early Spanish chroniclers, coca was the most important plant offering during public rituals. Likewise, important landmarks within the Inka domain regularly received offerings of this precious leaf. Its high value is indicated by the fact that not only the living chewed the leaves on a regular basis, but also the dead carried coca leaves in their mouths. We still do not know when coca leaves were first used in the Peruvian central highlands. This uncertainty is largely due to the lack of coca leaves recovered from highland archaeological sites. Several leaves recently found at Convento in the northern part of the Ayacucho Valley are the first direct evidence from an archaeological context that, based on ceramic stylistic grounds, dates to sometime between the end of the Early Intermediate Period (ca. 1–550 ce) and the beginning of the Middle Horizon Period (ca. 550–1100 ce). The botanical identification also indicates that the source of the coca was the Pacific coast. This paper reports this unique finding and discusses its implications.
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    El valle de Ayacucho y el Tawantinsuyo
    (2002) Valdez, Lidio M.; Valdez, J. Ernesto
    This paper is aimed to assess the situation of the Ayacucho Valley of the Peruvian central highlands before and during the lnka occupation. Until very recently, it was argued that this valley was largely abandoned during lnka times and consequently played no role within the lnka Empire. Because of new fieldwork carried out on the northern portion of the valley, it is becoming evident that in the region there were several important lnka period sites. Before the lnka conquest, the inhabitants of the region occupied sites established in defensive positions and often at higher elevation. Following lnka conquest, most of these sites were relocated to Lower elevations. At the same time, the Local pre-lnka pottery style survived and continued being manufactured during lnka times, as its occurrence at both defensive sites and low elevation sites indicates. lnka related artifacts, however, are present only at lower elevation sites.
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    From rural to urban: archaeological research in the periphery of Huari, Ayacucho Valley, Peru
    (2017) Valdez, Lidio M.; Valdez, J. Ernesto
    For hundreds upon hundreds of years, humans lived in small settlements where most individuals, if not all, were linked by kinship ties. Many of these villages were occupied for generations and thus their occupants had a strong connection to the place. The villages were politically and economically autonomous, yet they were connected with adjacent villages by means of barter and intermarriage. Within a relatively short period of time, centuries-long occupied small villages were left vacant and replaced by fewer but much larger settlements identified as cities. In contrast to the rural based villages, cities began to house much larger numbers of residents, who not only were unfamiliar with each other but also were mainly concerned with their own well-being. Recent archaeological research carried out in the immediate periphery of Huari provides crucial information that indicates that the growth of Huari paralleled the abandonment of rural villages apparently in the midst of increasing conflict. The rural settlement of Huaqanmarka was occupied for several centuries, yet it was abandoned within a short period of time simultaneously with the desertion of other adjacent settlements.
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    Highland and coastal cultural interaction: new evidence from the ancient city of Huari, Ayacucho, Peru
    (2016) Valdez, Lidio M.; Valdez, J. Ernesto
    Early in the history of archaeological studies in the Ayacucho Valley of the Peruvian central highlands, archaeologists noticed the occurrence of design elements associated with the Nasca culture of the Peruvian south coast region. Such an occurrence has been interpreted as the Nasca influence. Archaeologists discussing the emergence of the Wari State in particular make frequent reference to the Nasca influence, arguing that following the south coast influence, the local ceramic style of the Ayacucho valley gained technological sophistication and resembled late Nasca ceramic shapes. In addition to innovations in ceramic technology, it has become apparent that following the Nasca influence the local cultural development in the Ayacucho Valley underwent significant transformation, including the shift from a rural to a predominantly urban life style. Recently, an archaeological excavation was carried out on a hilltop on the western side of the city of Huari which revealed evidence for a dense human occupation beginning about the middle of the Early Horizon (ca. 300 BCE – 50 CE), then continuing during the Early Intermediate Period (ca. 50 – 600 CE). However, shortly after interaction with the south coast was established, the hilltop was abandoned. This paper explores the nature of the interaction between the south coast and the central highlands and its role in the establishment of the city of Huari.
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    Los sistemas de almacenamiento Inka de Tinyaq, Ayacucho, Peru
    (2000) Valdez, Lidio M.; Valdez, J. Ernesto
    The Inka occupation of the Ayacucho Valley is a subject that has received little attention by archaeologists. Although it is evident that this valley was incorporated by the Inka, little is known regarding the role of the valley within the empire. Various studies carried out in the valley have resulted only in the location of very few Inka settlements. This information has been used by some to argue that the Ayacucho Valley played no role in the political scheme of the empire. The recent location of the Inka storehouses at Tinyaq, however, suggests that this valley was not abandoned as many have claimed. In this essay, it is our aim to evaluate the significance of the Inka structures of Tinyaq. On the basis of this data, we argue that this valley was part of the productive system of Tawantinsuyo.
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    Marayniyoq, un establecimiento wari en el valle de Ayacucho, Perú
    (2000) Valdez, Lidio M.; Valdez, J. Ernesto; Bettcher, Katrina J.; Vivanco, Cirilo
    In this paper we discuss the initial results of archaeological excavation carried out at Marayniyoq, a specialized Wari facility in the Ayacucho Valley, Peru. The discovery of a series of flat worked stones used for grinding, along with rocker grinders strongly suggests that the role of Marayniyoq was focused on grain processing, probably grinding corn. Because the grinding stones are immense cut blocks it is also apparent that enormous human energy was invested in the preparation, transportation and final setup of the facility. At the same time, the presence of large ceramic vessels and other evidence suggests that the function of Marayniyoq was the grinding of malted corn (qora) for corn-beer production.
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    Mortuary preferences and selected references: a comment on Middle Horizon Wari burials
    (2006) Valdez, J. Ernesto; Ochatoma, José A.; Bettcher, Katrina J.; Valdez, Lidio M.
    In a recently published paper, Isbell (2004; see also Isbell 2000; Isbell and Cook 2002) reports the finding of several Wari mortuary structures from the site of Conchopata. On the basis of this information and additional data from the main Wari site also in the Ayacucho Valley, Isbell has developed a Wari mortuary typology varying from very simple graves to an elaborate chamber complex that is argued to be the tomb of ‘an emperor’. Isbell argues that this mortuary variability mirrors status difference and social inequality. At the same time, Isbell asserts that some high-ranking Wari individuals practiced polygyny. While the paper under consideration provides important data for understanding Wari society, Isbell unfortunately has ignored other equally relevant information. Indeed, published reports of other Wari mortuary structures excavated during the last six years in the Ayacucho Valley are not included in the discussion. Consequently, Isbell's analysis is incomplete and misleading. To amend this situation, our aim is to present the information that we and other colleagues have accumulated in the Ayacucho Valley. All available data considered, Wari mortuary variability is even greater than the simple hierarchical typology promoted by Isbell.
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    New Wari mortuary structures in the Ayacucho Valley, Peru
    (2002) Valdez, Lidio M.; Bettcher, Katrina J.; Valdez, J. Ernesto
    Recent archaeological salvage excavations in the Ayacucho Valley of the Peruvian Central Highlands resulted in the discovery of two totally new mortuary structure forms for the region andfor the Wari culture in particular. Thefirstform consists of two rectangular mortuary chambers, each with a small east-facing entrance and holding the interred remains of several individuals. The second form consists of several cylindrical cists, each containing the remains of a single individual. We describe both mortuaryf orms and compare them to other known Warim ortuary structures of the region. Since both chambers evidently were accessible, we also discuss their possible implications with regard to ancestor worship, keeping in mind that an important aspect of Inka ayllu organization was the veneration of ancestors' mummified bodies kept in accessible mortuary buildings
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    Posoqoypata, un cementerio Wari en el valle de Ayacucho, Perú
    (2001) Valdez, Lidio M.; Bettcher, Katrina J.; Valdez, J. Ernesto
    Recently we carried out an archaeological salvage excavation at a Wari cemetery in the Ayacucho Valley of central Peru. This intervention resulted in the discovery of two totally new mortuary structure forms for the region and the Wari culture in particular. The first form is a rectangular mortuary chamber, with a small east-facing entrance, where the remains of several individuals were found. The second form is a cylindrical cist built to contain the remains of one individual. In this essay we describe both mortuary forms and compare them to other known Wari mortuary structures of the region. Considering that the first form was evidently accessible, we also discuss the possible implications of this chamber with regards to ancestor worship, keeping in mind that an important aspect of ayllu organization during Inka times was the veneration of the ancestors’ mummified bodies that were kept in accessible mortuary buildings.
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    Posoqoypata, un cementerio Wari en el valle de Ayacucho, Perú
    (2001) Valdez, Lidio M.; Valdez, J. Ernesto; Bettcher, Katrina J.
    Recently we carried out an archaeological salvage excavation at a Wari cemetery in the Ayacucho Valley of central Peru. This intervention resulted in the discovery of two totally new mortuary structure forms for the region and the Wari culture in particular. The first form is a rectangular mortuary chamber, with a small east-facing entrance, where the remains of several individuals were found. The second form is a cylindrical cist built to contain the remains of one individual. In this essay we describe both mortuary forms and compare them to other known Wari mortuary structures of the region. Considering that the first form was evidently accessible, we also discuss the possible implications of this chamber with regards to ancestor worship, keeping in mind that an important aspect of ayllu organization during Inka times was the veneration of the ancestors’ mummified bodies that were kept in accessible mortuary buildings.
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    Production of maize beer at a Wari site in the Ayacucho Valley, Peru
    (2010) Valdez, Lidio M.; Bettcher, Katrina J.; Valdez, J. Ernesto
    Alcohol consumption is not just a current phenomenon; archaeological findings demonstrate that many ancient civilizations around the world also made fermented beverages from a variety of products, including maize. However, the archaeological study of fermented beverages is not straightforward because the raw materials used in alcohol production are recovered only under exceptional conditions of preservation and the equipment remains are fragmentary. In this paper, our aim is to consider how ethnographical and ethnohistorical data may be used to better interpret the potential archaeological evidence for the production of fermented beverages. Here we use as an example the Middle Horizon site of Marayniyoq, from the Peruvian central highlands to discuss the production of fermented beverages.
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    The end of empire: new radiocarbon dates from the Ayacucho Valley, Peru, and their implications for the collapse of the Wari State
    (2007) Finucane, Brian Clifton; Valdez, J. Ernesto; Calderon, Ismael Perez; Pomacanchari, Cirilo Vivanco; Valdez, Lidio M.; O'Connell, Tamsin
    This paper presents a suite of new accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) radiocarbon measurements from the Ayacucho Valley of Peru and discusses their implications for the timing and nature of the collapse of the Wari Empire. Analysis of these and previously published dates from the region indicate that there is little evidence for state political authority in Ayacucho prior to the end of the 7th century. Dated human remains from the polity’s eponymous capital indicate that the authority of the state’s rulers persisted at least as late as the mid-11th century. Dates from rural sites in the Ayacucho Valley suggest continuity of occupation and folk material culture following Wari’s disintegration. Finally, AMS measurements of bone from 2 large extramural ossuaries represent the first absolute dates associated with Chanca ceramics and suggest that this archaeological/ethnohistoric culture appeared in the valley at about AD 1300.
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    Utilización y reutilización de la cerámica Wari: una perspectiva Desde Marayniyoq, Ayacucho, Perú
    (2009) Valdez, Lidio M.; Valdez, J. Ernesto
    Archaeological excavations carried out at the Middle Horizon Wari site of Marayniyoq, in the Ayacucho Valley, Peru, uncovered an excellent collection of ceramic vessels, the majority of them being large sized. The objective of this paper is to explain, first, the social context that determined the manufacturing of specific vessel forms, and, second, to evaluate the reuse broken vessels. The functional analysis of the ceramics also allows us to determine that within the Wari political structure, the production centers operated maximizing resources, and in the particular case of Marayniyoq reusing broken vessel. This is of particular interest noting that at other important centers, the elite was privileged to sacrifice finely decorated vessels.