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A Chronological Model for Inca Provincial Expansion: The Case of the Copiapo Valley

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 March 2024

Francisco Garrido Open the ORCID record for Francisco Garrido [Opens in a new window]
Francisco Garrido*
Affiliation:
Curator, Museo Nacional de Historia Natural, Santiago, Chile
*
Email: [email protected]
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Abstract

This article examines a new dataset of radiocarbon dates that provides insights into the progressive installation of Inca infrastructure in the Copiapo Valley, situated at the southern edge of the Atacama Desert in northern Chile. It shows that the Inca imperial expansion in this region was not a linear process and was likely shaped by local negotiations and conflicts. The findings describe three main stages of Inca expansion. The first is the construction of the North–South Inca Road and the establishment of high-altitude mountain shrines. The next stage consisted of a physical intervention in a local village located in the upper valley, including the construction of administrative buildings and public spaces. The last stage involved indirect intervention in local villages, characterized by the presence of isolated administrative buildings that were potentially used for diplomacy and negotiation. I argue that the Inca imperial expansion, characterized by evolving strategies across regions and time periods, not only demonstrates the state's capacity for learning but also suggests the pivotal role of local actors in positions of power who wielded agency to shape these developments.

Resumen

Resumen

Este artículo examina un nuevo conjunto de fechados radiocarbónicos que nos permite observar las etapas progresivas de instalación de infraestructura Inca en el valle de Copiapó, ubicado en el límite sur del desierto de Atacama, norte de Chile. La expansión imperial Inca aquí no aconteció como un proceso lineal, sino que fue probablemente modificada por medio de negociaciones locales y conflicto. Los resultados muestran tres etapas principales de expansión. Primero, construcción del camino Inca norte-sur y el establecimiento de los santuarios de altura en las montañas. Segundo, intervención física de una aldea local en la parte alta del valle, incluyendo la construcción de edificios administrativos con espacios públicos. Finalmente, intervención indirecta en aldeas locales y presencia de edificios administrativos aislados posiblemente destinados para diplomacia y negociación. Mi argumento es que la expansión imperial incaica y sus cambios estratégicos a través del tiempo y el espacio no son solo expresión de un proceso de aprendizaje del Estado, sino que también pudieron haber sido influidos por actores locales que estaban bien posicionados para expresar su agencia.

Keywords

IncainfrastructurechronologyagencyAtacama DesertIncasinfraestructuracronologíaagenciadesierto de Atacama
Type
Article
Information
Latin American Antiquity , First View , pp. 1 - 20
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Society for American Archaeology

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