The Economic Organization of Early Camelid Pastoralism in the Andean Highlands of Bolivia 9781407312293, 9781407341941

Table of contents :
Front Cover
Title Page
Copyright
Table of Contents
List of Figures
List of Tables
Acknowledgements
Abstract - Resumen
Chapter 1. Introduction
Chapter 2. The World of Pastoralism and Andean Camelid Herding
Chapter 3. Research Problem: Early Camelid Pastoralism in the Central Altiplano
Chapter 4. Study Area
Chapter 5. Materials and Methods
Chapter 6. Archaeological Survey and Settlement Patterns
Chapter 7. Archaeological Excavations and Settlement Layouts
Chapter 8. Zooarchaeological Analysis
Chapter 9. Discussion: Understanding Early Andean Camelid Pastoralism
Chapter 10. Conclusions
References Cited

Citation preview

BAR S2597 2014 CAPRILES THE ECONOMIC ORGANIZATION OF EARLY CAMELID PASTORALISM

B A R

Capriles 2597 cover.indd 1

The Economic Organization of The Economic of in Early Early CamelidOrganization Pastoralism the Camelid Pastoralism theBolivia Andean Andean Highlandsinof Highlands of Bolivia José M. Capriles

José M. Capriles

BAR International Series BAR International Series 2597 2013 2014 18/01/2014 14:43:25

The Economic Organization of The Economic of in Early Early CamelidOrganization Pastoralism the Camelid Pastoralism theBolivia Andean Andean Highlandsinof Highlands of Bolivia José M. Capriles

José M. Capriles

BAR International Series BAR International Series 2597 2013 2014

ISBN 9781407312293 paperback ISBN 9781407341941 e-format DOI https://doi.org/10.30861/9781407312293 A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

BAR

PUBLISHING

Table of Contents

List of Figures List of Tables Acknowledgements Abstract - Resumen Chapter 1. Introduction

vii xi xiii xv 1

Chapter 2. The World of Pastoralism and Camelid Herding 3 A Conceptual Framework for Understanding Pastoralism 3 The Social Dimension of Pastoralism 4 The Human Ecology of Pastoralism 4 Pastoralist Societies and Mobility 5 The Archaeology of Pastoralist Economic Organization 5 Andean Pastoralism 6 South American Camelids 6 Domestication of Andean Camelids 7 Archaeological Research of Camelid Utilization in the Andes 8 Contemporary Andean Camelid Herding 9 Chapter 3. Research Problem: Early Camelid Pastoralism in the Central Altiplano 11 The Central Altiplano of the South Central Andes 11 Ethnohistory and Archaeology of the Central Altiplano 11 Wankarani and Early Village Life 14 The Tiwanaku State and the Central Altiplano 15 Research Questions 16 Hypotheses 16 Wankarani Economic Organization 17 Incorporation to the Tiwanaku State 17 Archaeological Expectations 17 Ethnoarchaeology of Andean Pastoralism 17 Reconstructing Ancient Herding 18 Correlates for Reconstructing Economic Organization 18 Correlates for Evaluating Changes in Economic Organization 19 Chapter 4. Study Area Environment of the Central Altiplano Paleoenvironment Iroco Vegetation and Microenvironments Floodplain or Cauchial Grassland or Pajonal Shrubland or Tholar Shrubland-Grassland Transition Cultivated Fields Economic Wild Plants Fauna Modern Camelid Pastoralism at Iroco

iii

21 21 23 23 25 29 30 30 30 31 31 32 37

Chapter 5. Materials and Methods Regional Archaeology Survey Strategy Inter-Site Spatial Data Site Archaeology Excavation Procedures Intra-Site Spatial Data Archaeological Materials Faunal Remains Camelid Intra-Specific Determination Deriving Mortality Profiles Skeletal Element Representations Cultural and Non-Cultural Modifications Non-Camelid Taxa

39 39 39 40 40 40 42 42 42 43 44 45 47 47

Chapter 6. Archaeological Survey and Settlement Patterns Early Pastoralist Settlement Patterns at Iroco Archaic Period Settlement Pattern Formative Period Settlement Pattern Tiwanaku Period Settlement Pattern Settlement Patterns after the Disintegration of the Tiwanaku State

49 49 49 53 57 59

Chapter 7. Archaeological Excavations and Settlement Layouts KCH20: An Early Archaic Period Base Camp KCH21: A Formative Period Residential Base KCH21FA: Lower Level KCH21FB: Upper Level KCH21Tiw: Uppermost Level KCH56: A Residential Structure within a Formative Period Settlement KCH11: A Formative and Tiwanaku Pastoralist Settlement KCH22: A Tiwanaku Period Settlement Paleoethnobotanical Analysis and Plant Utilization at Iroco Microbotanical Remains Macrobotanical Remains

61 61 64 66 70 71 74 76 78 79 79 80

Chapter 8. Zooarchaeological Analysis Quantitative Properties Assemblage Composition Sampling Strategy Sample Size Recovery Procedures Inter-Taxonomic Representation Arrangement Diversity Camelids Abundance Intra-Specific Determination Incisor Morphology Morphometric Assessment of First Phalanges Meadow’s Log Size Index Mortality Profiles Epiphyseal Fusion Mandible Tooth Eruption and Wear Sex-Ratio Paleopathologies Skeletal Element Representations Structural Density and Economic Utility Element Representation Modifications

83 83 83 83 83 84 86 86 89 89 89 91 91 92 93 94 94 98 99 100 103 103 104 113

iv

Bone Tools Cut Marks Chop Marks Percussion Marks Carnivore Damage Rodent Gnawing Mechanical Abrasion Burning Weathering Chemical and Biological Processes Other Faunal Resources Deer Canids Rodents Birds Recovery Richness and Abundance Element Representation Modifications Egg-shells Reptiles and Amphibians Fish Recovery Abundance Assemblage Composition Skeletal Representation Burning and Other Modifications Osteometry Mollusks

113 117 119 119 119 119 122 122 122 123 123 123 125 125 129 129 129 131 132 132 133 133 133 133 134 135 138 138 140

Chapter 9. Discussion: Understanding Early Andean Camelid Pastoralism 141 The Archaic Period Foraging System 141 Foraging Subsistence in the Central Altiplano 142 Transitioning into the Formative Period 142 The Formative Period Pastoralist System 143 Inter-Site Settlement Patterns and Pastoralism 143 Intra-Site Settlement Configuration and Economic Organization 146 Corrals 146 Domesitc Structures 147 Miscellaneous Features 148 Configuration of Residential Bases 148 Fauna 150 Camelid Herding 150 Food Processing and Cooking 151 Secondary Products and Services 152 Wild Fauna 153 Formative Period Pastoralism in the South Central Andes 153 Implications of the Paleoethnobotanical Data 155 Formative Period Generalized Camelid Pastoralism 155 The Tiwanaku State and the Central Altiplano 156 Wankarani, Tiwanaku, and the Changing Political Economy 157 Chapter 10. Conclusions Methodological Insights Theoretical Insights Early Camelid Pastoralism in the Central Altiplano Epilogue: Pastoralism in the Central Altiplano Today References Cited

v

159 159 161 163 164 167

vi

List of Figures

3.1. The altipano of Bolivia including archaeological sites mentioned in the text. 12 3.2. Stone tenon heads representing camelids often found in Wankarani. Photograph at the Museo Antropológico Eduardo López Rivas in Oruro. 13 4.1. The altiplano highlands in the South Central Andes divided into north, central and southern portions with major archaeological sites and the Iroco study area. 22 4.2. Mean monthly temperature and precipitation of the city of Oruro for the period between 1961 and 1990. Source data from Servicio Nacional de Meteorología of Bolivia. 23 4.3. The study area including location of the communities Cochiraya, Iroco and Chuzequeri, the Kori Chaca mine and the city of Oruro. Base image Google Earth. 24 4.4. Vegetation profile of Iroco. 1) Trichocereus pasacana, 2) Notholaena nivea, 3) Fabiana densa, 4) Aristida enodis, 5) Cultivation fields, 6) Tetraglochin cristatum, 7) Senecio clivicola, 8) Bartsia crenata, 9) Baccharis incarum, 10) Parastrephia lucida, 11) Stipa ichu, 12) Pycnophyllum macropetalum, 13) Festuca orthophylla, 14) Suaeda foliosa, 15) Schoenoplectus californicus var. tatora. Drawing by Arely Palabral. 27 4.5. View of totora reeds on the shores of the Karakollu River. 29 4.6. View of the floodplain at Chuzekery. 29 4.7. View of grassland at Iroco. 30 4.8. View of shrubland at Iroco. 30 4.9. View of grassland-shrubland transition and herd of camelids at Iroco. 31 4.10. Cultivated fields at Cochiraya. 31 4.11. Potential representative fauna of Iroco. 1) Lama glama, 2) Vicugna pacos, 3) Vicugna vicugna, 4) Cavia tschudii, 5) Ctenomys opimus, 6) Chaetophractus nationi, 7) Nothoprocta ornata, 8) Fulica gigantea, 9) Fulica ardesiaca, 10) Podiceps occipitalis, 11) Anas puna, 12) Anas cyanoptera, 13) Phoenicoparrus jamesi, 14) Anas flavirostris, 15) Calidris melanotos, 16) Recurvirostra andina, 17) Phoenicopterus chilensis, 18) Phoenicoparrus andinus, 19) Nycticorax nycticorax, 20) Lycalopex culpaeus, 21) Buteo polyosoma, 22) Rhea pennata. Drawing by Arely Palabral. 4.12. Mixed herd of llamas and sheep herding at Chuzekery. 37 5.1. Measurements landmarks recorded from camelid first phalanges (redrawn from Kent 1982:Fig. 4.1). 44 5.2. Relationship between volumetric density and economic utility for camelid skeletal elements (data from Table 5.3). Correlation is negative and significant (rs=-0.616, P