Bofedales as relational spaces: Irrigation and nurturing practices in a pre-Hispanic pastoral landscape, South Central Andes

Various factors have contributed to conceptualizing the altiplano as an “extreme” and hostile upland environment, where niche lifeways such as camelid herding are part of the limited human presence. Consequently, Andean herders are often portrayed as merely exploiting the ostensibly self-sustaining altiplano pastures and peatlands. This viewpoint is reinforced by the low visibility of material culture associated with and derived from pastoralist lifeways. To revisit this essentialist and ecologically inclined perspective, we argue that pastoral practices in Andean bofedales (high Andean peatlands) involve active and significant water and vegetation management interventions. These interventions, driven by collective labor, not only enhance but also expand peatland resources for livestock. To support this argument, we present findings from Surire, Mulluri, and Parcohaylla (Chile), where ethnographic research was integrated with archaeological surveys and geospatial methods. These approaches allowed us to characterize active and abandoned hydraulic installations and evaluate their role in shaping pastoral landscapes. We offer a reimagined perspective on bofedales, framing them as cultural landscapes shaped by collective pastoral labor through hydraulic management practices. These landscapes sustain livelihoods, promote social cohesion, and are deeply embedded with Aymara cosmopraxis, reflecting the relational dynamics of humans, animals, and the environment in co-nurturing practices.