ED-XRF analysis of obsidian artifacts from Yanawilka, a settlement of transplanted laborers (mitmaqkuna), and implications for Inca imperialism. (April 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hu, Di; Shackley, M. Steven
• Is Part Of: Journal of archaeological science. Volume 18(2018)
• Page Start: 213
• Page End: 221
• Publication Date: 2018-04
• Subjects: Obsidian provenance -- Ed-XRF -- Incas -- Lithic technology -- Political economy; Archaeology -- Periodicals; Archaeology -- Research -- Periodicals; 930.1
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jasrep.2018.01.018
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2352-409X

Abstract

Abstract: Perhaps the most ambitious social policy carried out by the Incas, the mitmaq program resettled one third to one quarter of subject populations for the purposes of control and producing for the state. Ethnohistoric sources suggest that the relocated people, called mitmaqkuna, were given access to fertile lands and enjoyed elevated social status and freedoms bestowed to them by the Incas. Until now, these claims have not been tested with archaeological evidence. This paper evaluates the ethnohistoric claims through the geochemical analysis of 84 obsidian artifacts from a probable mitmaqkuna agricultural labor colony called Yanawilka, located in Vilcashuamán province, Peru. There is evidence that access to obsidian was restricted for the inhabitants of Yanawilka. The obsidian was mostly from the Quispisissa source, but the relative scarcity, small flake size, and evidence for conservation of raw material suggests that access to this high-quality source was limited and not due to direct procurement. Highlights: We analyzed 84 obsidian artifacts from a probable mitmaqkuna colony called Yanawilka. Access to obsidian at Yanawilka was restricted and likely due to Inca political mediation. The vast majority of obsidian artifacts was made of Quispisisa obsidian. The small size of debitage and the presence of bipolar reduction indicate lack of direct access to obsidian sources. The source proportions of obsidian artifacts at Yanawilka do not conform well to the standard distance decay model. Low obsidian artifact densities at the Inca-period sites of Pulapuco and Yanawilka compared to pre-Inca sites.