CONCLUSION

For many regions of the Central Andes the period between the decline of the Wari state and the growth of the Inca state is still poorly understood. In spite of the large amount of archaeological information collected over the last three decades, the LIP is still described in very simple terms as a time of complexity and splendor on the coast and simplicity and austerity in the highlands. In a sense, this is true. During the LIP the expansion and integration of several coastal polities stands out against the contraction and disintegration of highland polities. However, careful examination of regions within these coastal and highland areas shows the existence of significant differences in the political and economic organization of these units in the north, central and south sections of the Central Andes. On the coast, a sort of a gradient existed in the complexity of these polities as one moves from north to south. North coast polities seem to have controlled larger territories than central coast polities, and central coast polities seem to have controlled larger territories than south coast polities. In the highlands the situation is different. In all regions reviewed here, in the north, central, and south highlands, several autonomous polities of varying complexity seem to have coexisted. The proliferation of fortifications suggests that war was a major concern for most of these polities, and for a few centuries probably one of the causes of their small scale. Some highland regions seem to have hosted more complex polities than others (e. g., Cajamarca, Huamachuco, Wanka, and Cuzco). However, none of these polities can be described as regional polity.

Several issues remain to be investigated about the LIP. In synchronic terms, coast-coast, highland-highland, and coast-highland interactions remain to be explored. We need to investigate, for example, the interaction between north coast polities such as Sican and Chimu and central coast polities such as Chancay and Ychsma, as well as north highland polities such as in Cajamarca and Huamachuco. Several lines of evidence reviewed here suggest that Sican and Chimu influence over these other polities was significant. However, we still do not understand what kind of interactions Sican and Chimu maintained with

These other polities and to what extent the political and economic organization of these other polities were shaped by their interactions with Sican and Chimu. In diachronic terms, we still need to determine the relation between the strategies implemented by Wari to control one region and the changes brought about by the end of Wari influence in that region.

In some cases, such as Huamachuco in the north highlands, direct control of the region by Wari seems to have been followed by more radical changes. In other cases, as in Lucre in the south highlands, direct control seems to have been followed by less radical changes.

The same applies to the relation between the political and economic centralization of a region encountered by the Incas and the strategies implemented by the Incas to control that region. In some cases, such as Ica on the south coast, the political and economic centralization of the region encountered by the Incas seems to have promoted indirect control of the region. However, in other cases, such as Ychsma, the political and economic centralization of the region encountered by the Incas seems to have promoted direct control of the region.

Clearly case studies are necessary to explain these differences.

Finally, a key problem faced by archaeologists working on the LIP is the lack of chronological resolution, particularly concerning the late MH and early LIP epochs. An increase in research targeted at this period is desperately needed in order to describe and explain the synchronic and diachronic issues I have just mentioned. Rowe’s (1962) chronological scheme for the Central Andes semantically privileges horizons (Chavin for the EH, Wari for the MH,

Inca for the LH) over intermediates (EIP and LIP), as if the peoples of these times languished after the demise of expansive polities or were waiting in suspense to be conquered again.

Acknowledgments I would like to thank William Isbell, Helaine Silverman, and Margaret Brown-Vega for their valuable and helpful commentaries to this paper, and Chris Milan for his help with the chronological tables.