Routes and Connected Spaces: Highlands and Lowlands of West Tinogasta, Catamarca (Ca. 200-1.200 A.D.)

Authors

  • Norma Ratto Museo Etnográfico Juan B. Ambrosetti, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Moreno 350 (1091) Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires
  • Mara Basile CONICET y Museo Etnográfico J. B. Ambrosetti, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Moreno 350 (1091), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires
  • Anabel Feely CONICET y Museo Etnográfico J. B. Ambrosetti, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Moreno 350 (1091), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires

Abstract

The high mesothermal valley (1.900 m.a.s.l) of the bolsón de Fiambalá, thehighlands of the transitional puna (3.400-4.000 m.a.s.l) and the high Andeanrange of Chaschuil (5.000-6.730 m.a.s.l) were integrated by pre-Hispanic routeswhich facilitated access to ecological complementarity and were key factor to promote, maintain and strengthen the socio-economic, political and ideologicalrelations that characterized the cultural development from the late Archaic to theInca occupation in these areas. In this paper we focus on one of these routes traveledby the first agro pastoralist societies, generically referred to as formative or pre-late,who occupied this region between approximately 200 and 1.200 years A.D. Weanalyze some technological and visual aspects of the ceramic material recovered fromarchaeological sites located within the contrasting environments connected by thisroute. We then relate these results with the architectural characteristics of the sitesof provenance of the ceramic samples. Finally, we discuss the existence of a traditionthat is reproduced in time by building a space through the memory.

Keywords:

Connecting routes, Pre-late Societies, Pottery, Architecture, NorthWest Argentina