Approximately 350 non-local ceramic vessels have been recovered from 6,000 graves in the San Pedro area. These originate from 1,000 years of trade primarily with southwestern Bolivia and northwestern Argentina. Tarrago (1989) identifies 15 non-local ceramic styles from the Early Intermediate Period: Vaquerias and Condorhuasi (central northwestern Argentina), from the Middle Period: Tiwanaku, Isla, Chicha, Candelaria, Tupuraya, Mojocoya, and Lerma-Tarija, and from the Late Intermediate Period and Late Period: Huruquiha-Yura, Hedionda, Yavi-Tilcara, and Inca (from northwestern Argentina and highland Peru). I examined Tarrago’s non-local collection in order to incorporate new information about ceramic styles and their distribution in southwest Bolivia (data from Angelo 1999; Arellano 2000; Fidel 1991; Cespedes and Lecoq 1998; Lecoq 1985, 1997, 1999; Lecoq and Cespedes 1995-1997, 1997a, b; Mamani 1998; Nielsen 1998, 2000; Nielsen et al. 1999).
San Pedro de Atacama’s remarkable diversity in ceramic styles is found in both mortuary and habitational contexts from 900 BC (Chiu Chiu 200: see Benavente 1978, 1988-89; Tulor: see Llagostera and Baron 1984) to the pre-and colonial periods (Toconce, Quitor 6, Turi, Catarpe: see Castro et al.1984), although it would appear that tombs are more diverse than residential contexts (Stovel 1997) [Note 3]. In the tombs specifically, researchers (Berenguer 1984; Costa and Llagostera 1994; Bravo and Llagostera 1986; Llagostera 1995; Nunez et al.1975; Tarrago 1977, 1989) have documented the presence of:
1) Early influence from the San Francisco and Candelaria traditions of sub-tropical northeastern Argentina and vessels in Vaquerias, Cienaga, Condorhuasi styles from northeastern and northwestern Argentina dating to 500 BC - AD 500.
2) Middle Period (AD 500-1000) Isla vessels and Aguada styles from northwestern Argentina, polychrome Tiwanaku vessels and local variants from Bolivia, various vessels from the southwestern Bolivian puna (i. e., Chicha from Lipez) and a few Cochabambino pieces (i. e., Mojocoya, Mizque).
3) Late Intermediate and Late Periods (AD 1000 - 1540) vessels such as Cuzco-Inca, with local and non-local variants (i. e., Inca-Paya from northwestern Argentina), and Yavi and Huruquilla/Yura pieces from the highland plateau between northern Argentina and southern Bolivia.
Exchange characterized the vast majority of San Pedro history. Tarrago (1994) summarized her analysis for a regional consideration of relative degrees of interaction (Table 49.1). This list furnished her postulation of various trade spheres in the South Central Andes. Although Tiwanaku and Inca evidence is not included here (they are considered in more depth in different parts in the Tarrago thesis), we can see that Middle Period ceramics predominate, and that the following regions represented foci of San Pedro trade and exchange (in descending order of importance) (Tarrago 1994: 202):
1) Puna and quebrada (valley) region (Jujuy, Sur Lipez and Tarija) during aU periods.
2) Central altiplano and western slope of the tropical lowlands (Cochabamba, Oruro), during Middle to Later periods.
3) Northwestern Argentina (Quebrada de Humahuaca, La Quiaca), during the Middle period only.
Tarrago’s ceramic analysis remains one of the most important documents in San Pedro archaeology both for its rigor and thoroughness. The derived list above requires revision, however, for several reasons. First, the definition of ceramic remains throughout the south-central Andes is a work-in-progress, requiring regular updates of current styles and their descriptions. Second, there is new debate concerning the temporal and spatial definition of some regional ceramic styles [Note 4]. Third, new ethnohistoric models of regional interaction call for a reconsideration of the archaeological evidence to explore their existence earlier in prehistory.
World History
