Hillforts across the south-central Andes
A pukara protected by ditches. Ichupucara, Espinar, Peru.
Defensive hillfort settlements (pukaras) became very common in the south-central Andean highlands ca. AD 1300-1450, indicating major changes in conflict and sociopolitical organization. This long-term program of research has investigated regional patterning, chronology, economy, and intra-site organization in pukara settlements.
Most recently, a large-scale collaborative project used satellite imagery to identify hillforts in the south-central Andes. This project is a partnership with colleagues Lauren Kohut, Ryan Smith, Steven Wernke, Romuald Housse, and Nick Suarez, and has relied on the help of many enthusiastic undergrad volunteers.
In 2020 and 2021, our team scoured more than 150,000 km² of terrain in satellite images, mostly using the GeoPACHA platform. We identified more than 1200 pukaras, and ground-checked several of them in field visits in 2022.
Pukaras are densely clustered in some elevation zones and not others. Across the south-central Andes, they vary in intriguing ways in size, density of residential occupation, and other traits. The general findings from this project are published here. We are continuing to analyze the patterns in this rich dataset.
A pukara east of Lake Titicaca. Pukaras often show up clearly in satellite imagery.
Map of identified pukaras (co-authors Kohut, Housse, Smith, and Wernke).
