Living and dying as subjects of the Inca Empire: Adult diet and health at Puruchuco-Huaquerones, Peru

Exploring imperial expansion using an isotopic analysis of paleodietary and paleomobility indicators in Chachapoyas, Peru

“…The average of 64% C 4 contribution supports the conclusion of a diet with substantial amounts of maize and is consistent for interpretations of Inca economy, but the wide range in variation suggested different life histories and possible ethnic diversity within the sample. Even the Inca conquered coast site of Purchuco-Huaquerones on the central coast reflects a much higher proportion of 13 C enriched foods with bone collagen values averaging 211.2& (Williams & Murphy, 2013). These data presented here do not conform to a population with a stronger contribution of C 4 plant resources during Inca times, and therefore may suggest that local dietary habits were not greatly influenced by imperial policies.…”

“…The power and utility of these isotopic methods in Peru has been demonstrated for both dietary determination (Lambert et al, 2012;Tieszen & Chapman, 1992;Tomczak, 2003;Tykot, Burger, & Van Der Merwe, 2006) and mobility studies (Knudson & Buikstra, 2007;Knudson, Price, Buikstra, & Blom, 2004;Knudson & Tung, 2007;White, Nelson, Longstaffe, Grupe, & Jung, 2009). There has been a specific focus on examining major changes related to the impact of imperialism (Kellner & Schoeninger, 2008;Williams & Katzenberg, 2012;Williams & Murphy, 2013), the practice of human sacrifice and ritualized violence (Tung & Knudson, 2009;Turner et al, 2013;Verano & DeNiro, 1993), social complexity (Knudson & Blom, 2009;Slovak & Paytan, 2011;Turner et al, 2009), and individual and group mobility (Andrushko, Buzon, Simonetti, & Creaser, 2009;Knudson & Price, 2007;White et al, 2009). While these studies advance knowledge of cultural developments in various environments on the coast and in the highlands of Peru, the northeastern slopes of the Cordillera Oriental have been not yet been tested.…”

“…Bioarchaeological models of imperialism have used a variety of tools to assess the impact of foreign conquest on the biology of local peoples with specific expectations of social, political, and economic change (Haun & Cock, 2010;Killgrove & Tykot, 2013;Turner, Kingston, & Armelagos, 2010;Williams & Murphy, 2013). Work by Tung (2012) in the Andes demonstrates the importance of contextualizing skeletal analyses within the broader framework of social complexity and political change.…”

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

“…Although in some places, Inca occupation was intensive, in others, it was short‐lived or was mainly based on negotitiation with ethnic leaders, leading to a “selectively intensive domination” (Williams & D'Altroy, ). Numerous studies have addressed the topic of “bioarcheology of imperialism” (Tung, ) and, specifically for the Inca time, have shown that the empire has variously altered lifestyles of communities in the provinces (Andrushko, ; Costin & Earle, ; Dorsey Vinton, Perry, Reinhard, Santoro, & Teixeira‐Santos, ; Falabella, Planella, Aspillaga, Sanhueza, & Tykot, ; Hastorf, ; Santoro, Dorsey Vinton, & Reinhard, ; Williams & Murphy, ).…”

“…"bioarcheology of imperialism" (Tung, 2012) and, specifically for the Inca time, have shown that the empire has variously altered lifestyles of communities in the provinces (Andrushko, 2007;Costin & Earle, 1989;Dorsey Vinton, Perry, Reinhard, Santoro, & Teixeira-Santos, 2009;Falabella, Planella, Aspillaga, Sanhueza, & Tykot, 2007;Hastorf, 1990;Santoro, Dorsey Vinton, & Reinhard, 2003;Williams & Murphy, 2013).…”