Espacios rituales y cultura material en un sitio arqueológico Humahuaca- Inca (Quebrada de Humahuaca, Jujuy, Argentina)

Abstract

RESUMENEsquina de Huajra es un asentamiento arqueológico ubicado en el sector centro-sur de la Quebrada de Humahuaca (extremo septentrional del noroeste de Argentina) cuya cultura material permite caracterizarlo como Humahuaca-Inca. En este trabajo analizamos los materiales, la espacialidad y características de los entierros hallados, mayoritariamente secundarios, que conforman verdaderos osarios en recintos cuadrangulares, dentro de estructuras circulares o bien como entierros directos en vasijas ordinarias. Los ajuares son también variados, llamando especialmente la atención la presencia de cráneos de aves y de polvos de colores (rojo, amarillo, verde, naranja y azul). La perduración de materiales incaicos para la época en la que la presencia española debería ser efectiva en la zona indicaría la continuación de un modo de vida establecido bajo la administración incaica, sin alteraciones notorias, así como la vigencia de las redes de interacción preexistentes.Palabras clave: Quebrada de Humahuaca, enterramientos, culto a los antepasados. Ritual Space and Material Culture in a Humahuaca-Inca Archaeological Site (Quebrada de Humahuaca, Jujuy, Argentina)ABSTRACT Esquina de Huajra is an archaeological site from the South-Central sector of Quebrada de Humahuaca (northern area of Northwest Argentina) which can be characterized from its material culture as a Humahuaca-Inca settlement. In this work we analyze materials, spatiality and characteristics of burials. Most interments are secondary, some of them composing ossuaries in rectangular shaped units, in circular structures or as primary interments in ordinary vessels. Mortuary offerings are also varied, calling special attention the presence of bird crania and pigments (red, yellow, green, orange and blue). The permanence of Inca material culture in moments when Spanish presence should be effective in the area would indicate the continuation of a lifestyle established under Inca administration that was not notably altered, as well as the efficacy of preexisting interaction networks.

New Data on Food Consumption in Pre-Hispanic Populations from Northwest Argentina (ca. 1000–1550 A.D.): The Contribution of Carbon and Nitrogen Isotopic Composition of Human Bones

“…This would imply that the site was occupied (and possibly built) in a late stage of the Inca Period, continuing this occupation in the initial stage of the Early Colonial Period, although the real control of the territory by the Spaniards was not exerted until 1600 A.D. approximately [59]. This is consistent both with the findings of Inca material culture in the tombs and the absence of Spanish objects in the site.…”

“…Nonlocal pottery fragments corresponded to Chicha/Yavi bowls and six polished bowls [61]. As far as we know, most of the surface of Terrace III seems to have been used mainly as a funerary space [59], as six tombs containing the remains of several individuals were found and analyzed. Five of the six detected tombs could be excavated, and six samples of human bone were collected for isotopic analysis, including adult 6 Journal of Anthropology individuals from both sexes and unsexed subadults from different ages as described in Table 3.…”

“…This occupation floor also contained abundant animal remains, two bone instruments, and a metal instrument [61,62]. The ceramic assemblage contains some of the typical Inca forms present in the provinces of the Empire [63]: footed ollas, small plates, plates and aríbalos possibly related to chicha elaboration and consumption [59] and nonlocal ceramics (i.e., Chicha/Yavi, Inca Pacajes, and Casabindo Pintado). The lithic material obtained points to the performance of reduction activities directed to obtaining base forms [61].…”

Pre‐Hispanic Mortuary Practices in Quebrada de Humahuaca (North‐Western Argentina): Genetic Relatedness among Individuals Buried in the Same Grave

“…They reflect social structure and can be understood as an approximation to the knowledge of different cultural, economic, and political features of a community (Baldini & Baffi, ; Seldes, ). Burial architecture and grave goods, which are the two main approaches, have contributed to understanding complex phenomena such as ancestor cult (Cremonte & Gheggi, ), social hierarchy (Palma, ), and community resistance to domination (Acuto et al., ; Cremonte & Gheggi, ; Seldes, ), among others.…”

The impact of the Inca Empire in Northwest Argentina: Assessment of health status and food consumption at Esquina de Huajra (Quebrada de Humahuaca, Argentina)

“…Cremonte, Garay de Fumagalli, and Sica () suggested that in this southern area of the Quebrada de Humahuaca, indigenous people from eastern sectors and different ceramic traditions would have acted as a link with Humahuaca groups under Inca control. Human remains recovered in Esquina de Huajra consist of at least 18 individuals corresponding to the Inca period who were inhumed following different funerary practices (see Cremonte & Gheggi, for further description on the tombs characteristics).…”