Dr. Kylie Quave of the George Washington University works in the Central Andes, excavating domestic archaeological sites and studying museum and site collections. Her research on the last five centuries before arrival of the Spanish in the Cusco region brings the experiences of local communities into focus. Rather than rely solely on historical records written from elite perspectives, archaeological study in Cusco can reveal how communities responded to, thwarted, and complied with Inka expansion. 

Local perspectives on Inka expansion in the Cusco region, Peru

Archaeological research on the Inka empire in the Cusco region (Peru) has often functioned to confirm historical narratives derived from the early Colonial chronicle documents of the 16th-17th centuries. This tendency has contributed to reconstructing Inka state development in overly simplified ways that privilege the stories they told Spaniards about their ancestors. However, archaeological excavations and archaeometric analyses have repeatedly demonstrated a more dynamic and fractured sociopolitical landscape prior to the European invasion. The Inkas attempted to bring their immediate neighbors, including rivals and allies, into their domain, but excavations reveal lower intensities of incorporation and assimilation than the historical record indicates. This talk reports on excavation results from recent years that are complicating the picture of a monolithic and imposing government in the Inka capital region and instead asks us to de-center what we know to see the Inkas' rise through their neighbors' eyes.