Patterns of camelid management in Wari Empire reconstructed using multiple stable isotope analysis: evidence from Castillo de Huarmey, northern coast of Peru

Abstract

Camelid management was a major part of the Wari Empire's (ca. AD 600-1050) economy; however, it is uncertain whether camelid husbandry was centrally regulated or locally managed. To address this problem, we applied combined isotope ratio analyses (δ Pb) to camelid remains from Castillo de Huarmey, a Wari administrative center along the northern Peruvian coast. Results support a mostly local herding scenario, but Sr isotopes indicate that at least three animals were non-local and most likely came from the highlands. Compared to data from two contemporary Wari sites, Cerro Baul and Conchopata, bimodal distribution of δ 13C values suggest that regardless of the distinctive geographical and ecological location of these sites, two distinct foddering strategies were practiced, based on only C 3 plant diet, or intermixed C 3 / C 4 plants diet. Our data support a dimorphic husbandry model with some herds engaged in grazing on the maize stubble and some herds operating outside arable areas, possibly indicative of short-distance seasonal transhumance. The presence of non-local animals at Castillo de Huarmey underscores the site's importance with respect to developed trade networks between the coast and the highlands.

Camelid husbandry in the Atacama Desert? A stable isotope study of camelid bone collagen and textiles from the Lluta and Camarones Valleys, northern Chile

“…Mounting isotopic evidence from the north coast of Peru has demonstrated the presence of local camelid populations in these areas from at least the Early Intermediate Period (c. 200 BC) [23][24][25][26][27][28]. Moreover, isotopic data demonstrate that camelids (probably llamas) were raised in an urban environment at the Wari site of Conchopata and intensively foddered with maize (>75% of the diet [29]).…”

Sequential analyses of bovid tooth enamel and dentine collagen (δ18O, δ13C, δ15N): new insights into animal husbandry between the Late Neolithic and the Early Bronze Age at Tana del Barletta (Ligurian Prealps)

“…Along with the potential for determining birth seasonality, the application of stable isotopes to detect seasonal mobility in archaeological herds has attracted the attention of the scholars since the early 2000s (Pederzani and Britton 2019) and remains a very frequent approach (Gerling et al 2017;Chazin et al 2019;Tomczyk et al 2019;Bishop et al 2020;Trentacoste et al 2020;Ventresca Miller et al 2020), due to the prominence of the debate revolving around ancient forms of mobile pastoralism (Arnold and Greenfield 2006;Jourdain-Annequin and Duclos 2006).…”

Oxygen isotopes in bioarchaeology: Principles and applications, challenges and opportunities

“…For instance, using oxygen, carbon and nitrogen isotope analyses of 'bulk' bone collagen, a changed isotopic niche due to herding and foddering strategies has been suggested for Pre-Pottery Neolithic goats in Jordan (Makarewicz and Tuross, 2012). Bulk δ 18 O values of bioapatite in conjunction with carbon and nitrogen isotope analyses have also been interpreted as evidence for the consumption of high δ 18 O water from human-managed water reservoirs in Camelids in pre-contact Peru (Tomczyk et al, 2018). In addition to 'bulk' sampling approaches, time-series data from serial samples can be especially useful for investigating the seasonality of certain animal husbandry practices in the past.…”