The first archaeologist to carry out research in Mojos was Erland Nordenskiold, who excavated several large mound sites near Trinidad and surveyed material culture throughout the region (Nordenskiold 1913, 1924). His research was the basis for Metraux’s summary of eastern Bolivian archaeology and the ceramic data from these excavations were later interpreted in light of evidence from across the entire South American lowlands (Metraux 1942; Howard 1948). Denevan’s subsequent geographical studies of earthworks revolutionized the study of pre-Columbian Mojos, introducing and carefully documenting the scale of landscape modification (Denevan 1966, 2001). Although Denevan did not excavate, his aerial and pedestrian survey of earthworks completely changed the understanding of preColumbian Mojeno societies and placed them in a larger context of intensive agriculture throughout the Americas. His book is still the most useful reference on Mojos.
Since Denevan drew attention to the region, a number of archaeological projects have conducted research in the area. Some have focused on documenting and analyzing ceramic industries, attempting to establish chronologies (Dougherty and Calandra 1981, 1981-82; Calandra and Salceda 2004). A few projects have carried out fieldwork at a single location (Arnold and Prettol 1998; Bustos 1978; Ryden 1941). Three projects currently active in Mojos are the Finnish Archaeological Project (Siriainen and Korpisaari 2002, 2003), the KAVA project (Prumers 2004) and the Proyecto Agro-Arqueologico del Beni (PAAB) (Erickson 1995, 2006; Erickson and Balee 2006; Erickson and Walker ms.; Walker 2004). The Finnish project has carefully documented a fortified site in the far north along the Beni River. The KAVA project has used careful analysis of stratigraphy in combination with ceramic analysis to interpret the large Mendoza mound in southeastern Mojos. The PAAB project has focused on archaeological landscapes, using remote sensing, survey and test excavations in locations throughout Mojos. Archaeologists working in Mojos also depend on information from other sources: historical, ethnographic, and geographic.
Mojos culture history continues to be debated by the archaeologists. Their focus is on three critical issues: social and political organization, contact between Mojos and neighboring areas, and the creation of anthropogenic landscapes.
World History
