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Obsidian Procurement and Exchange at the Apogee of Empire: Wari Political Economy in Arequipa, Peru

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 March 2024

David A. Reid*
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL, USA
Patrick Ryan Williams
Affiliation:
School of Human Evolution and Social Change, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
Augusto Cardona Rosas
Affiliation:
Centro de Investigaciones Arqueológicas de Arequipa (CIARQ), Arequipa, Peru
Robin Coleman Goldstein
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
Laure Dussubieux
Affiliation:
Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, IL, USA
Cyrus Banikazemi
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL, USA
Kurt Rademaker
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
*
Corresponding author: David A. Reid; Email: dreid5@uic.edu
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Abstract

During the Middle Horizon (AD 600–1000), obsidian was transported in greater quantities and distances than ever before identified in the Andes, in part by the expansionary Wari state. Two of the three major obsidian sources used in the south-central Andes are located in the modern department of Arequipa, Peru. Arequipa was a region of intense Wari influence and intrusive presence; however, little is known about regional obsidian use. Portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF) and laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) were used to analyze 383 obsidian artifacts recovered from 10 archaeological sites in Arequipa. Results highlight diachronic and spatial patterning related to obsidian procurement strategies, state versus bottom-up exchange networks, and local participation within the Wari realm. A wide variety of geological obsidian sources, including nonlocal obsidians originating from Wari's Ayacucho heartland, were used. By the late Middle Horizon, the Wari had consolidated regional resources with the sole use of Alca-1 and Alca-4 bedrock obsidians, the largest-sized and highest-quality sources in the area. We assess related models of obsidian procurement and exchange related to state political economy, long-distance caravan activity, and the role of local ceremonial/waystation centers that facilitated the flow of ideas, goods, and people across Arequipa.

Resumen

Resumen

Durante el Horizonte Medio (600–1000 dC), la obsidiana fue transportada en cantidades y distancias nunca antes vistas en los Andes Centro Sur, debido en parte, al expansionista estado Wari. Dos de las tres principales fuentes de obsidiana utilizadas están en Arequipa, Perú, región de intensa influencia Wari. Sin embargo, se sabe poco del uso regional de la obsidiana. Se analizan aquí 383 artefactos de obsidiana recuperados de 10 sitios arqueológicos en Arequipa, utilizando fluorescencia de rayos X portátil (pXRF) y espectrometría de masas con plasma de acoplamiento inductivo por ablación láser (LA-ICP-MS). Los resultados destacan los patrones diacrónicos y espaciales del uso de obsidiana, las redes de intercambio y la participación local dentro del reino Wari. También indican una amplia variedad de fuentes geológicas de obsidiana, incluyendo algunas no locales, originarias del corazón de Wari en Ayacucho. A fines del Horizonte Medio, Wari había consolidado el uso exclusivo de obsidianas Alca-1 y Alca-4 (fuentes de mayor tamaño y calidad de la zona). Aquí evaluamos modelos de obtención e intercambio de obsidiana relacionados con la economía política estatal, la actividad caravanera y el papel de los centros ceremoniales/tambos que facilitaron el flujo de ideas, bienes y personas a través de Arequipa.

Information

Type
Article
Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BY
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2024. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Society for American Archaeology
Figure 0

Figure 1. Map of significant Middle Horizon and Wari sites in Peru. (Color online)

Figure 1

Figure 2. Map of Arequipa study sites. (Color online)

Figure 2

Figure 3. Map of obsidian sources of the south-central Andes in relation to the study region (box) and capitals of the Wari and Tiwanaku states.

Figure 3

Figure 4. Sample of bifacially worked tools from La Angostura (a) and Santa Rosa II (b–d). Source characterization: a = Alca-4; b = Quispisisa; c = Anillo; and d = Alca-1. (Color online)

Figure 4

Figure 5. Ternary graph (Sr, Rb, Zr) of obsidian artifacts from Corralones by pXRF.

Figure 5

Figure 6. Ternary graph (Sr, Rb, Zr) of obsidian artifacts from the upper Majes–Chuquibamba Drainage by pXRF.

Figure 6

Figure 7. Scatterplot of LA-ICP-MS ppm data of obsidian artifacts. Solid ellipses = 95% confidence interval surrounding LA-ICP-MS values of Alca-1 geological obsidian (n = 46). Dashed ellipses = 95% confidence interval surrounding NAA values of Alca-4 geological obsidian (n = 10). Square symbols represent single geological samples run by LA-ICP-MS. Plus symbols represent averaged NAA values for major geological obsidian sources as reported by Glascock and colleagues (2007).

Figure 7

Table 1. Character Group Assignment of Obsidian Artifacts from Arequipa Study Sites.

Figure 8

Table 2. Obsidian Source Characterization by Artifact Form.

Figure 9

Table 3. Distance between Study Sites and Obsidian Sources by Least Cost-Path Distance and Estimated Travel Time by Llama Caravan Based on 20 km/day Caravan Speed.

Figure 10

Figure 8. Least cost path (Tobler Hiking Function) between Wari capital and the southernmost colony Cerro Baul. (Color online)

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