An archaeological perspective on the inka provincial administration of the south-central andes

This chapter constitutes an important contribution to the Inka archaeology of northern Chile. In particular, the authors focus on Arica, one of the most distant, and seemingly marginal, regions of the empire. Based on extensive archaeological research, ranging from regional studies, changes in the artifact assemblages, architecture, and dietary patterns from a household scale, this chapter highlights the distinct strategies of Inka control in the coastal valleys in comparison to the highlands of Arica. Against earlier assumptions that Inka control in these regions was uniformly indirect and through highland archipelago populations from the Circum-Titicaca, the authors compare the different historical trajectories of the coastal valleys and highlands in Arica. Even though in the Arica coastal valleys there was no significant construction of Inka infrastructure compared to that in the nearby highlands, the authors emphasize the important changes generated by the empire. This is reflected in the selected distribution of Inka prestige goods such as decorated pottery, copper objects, mullu shells, and khipus in elite burials and residences, in addition to major population concentrations, changes in the local architecture, and distribution of qollqas between the littorals of Arica and the inner Inka settlements. This may not be a surprise, since these coastal valleys were rich in fish and guano resources. In this context, the Inkas sought to have access to such goods through a prestige-goods economy targeted to coastal elites. In comparison, the highlands of Arica show visible state investment evidenced in the amplification of the Inka road network with associated tampus, concentrations of qollqas in selected locations, chullpa mortuary towers in the altiplanic style, and agricultural intensification. In this case, the investment of imperial infrastructure was directed to ensure a significant economic extraction. Whereas the authors suggest that the highlands of Arica show evidence of direct imperial involvement in the local socioeconomy, they also emphasize the role of intermediate but nonlocal populations in the consolidation of imperial power in the region. Specifically, their research shows the presence of Pacajes and other altiplanic populations from the Circum-Titicaca basin associated with Inka installations in the sierra of Arica. Such was the case of the qollqas, adobe chullpa towers, and imperial tampus associated with Pacajes-Saxamar and other Inka altiplanic ceramic wares. Taking into account that these altiplanic materials were already distributed in the sierra of Arica even before the arrival of the Inkas, we can hypothesize the important role that these nonlocal Circum-Titicaca populations played in the expansion and administration of the northernmost Inka provinces in this region. This early presence, perhaps in the form of colonies from the Circum-Titicaca, ensured the successful imperial expansion into the farthest northern regions, with Pacajes and other altiplanic groups as the main imperial agents. In all, we consider this chapter to be a significant contribution to understanding the varying ways in which the Inka Empire strengthened its power despite distance limitations. In this case, Inkanized Circum-Titicaca populations were the agents of imperialism and the mechanism to ensure a direct - although delegated - form of imperial control.