Women at work : a present archaeological view of Azul Pampa herding culture (North West Argentina)

Abstract

Azul Pampa is an analytical spatial unit in Jujuy's pune region, of ca. 20 km radius, from Inca Cueva gorge's junction with the Río Grande, Humahuaca Department, north-west Argentina. This environment is defined according to vegetation, fauna, climate and altitude above sea level. It has several stratums with different resources within which i have carried out archaeological and ethnoarchaeological investigations since 1986. The local paleoenvironmental studies indicate that present puna conditions were established at least since 4000 years age, or earlier. Altitudes range from 3750 masl average at Inca Cueva, 3500 masl at Alto Sapagua, and 3300 masl at Hornaditas. I have also included in this research area the Tomayoc site (4170 masl) at Sierra del Aguilar, to the West, investigated with the French Archaeological Mission. My archaeological investigation focused on finding early Formative occupations at caves and rock shelters at Inca Cueva gorge. Basic assumptions were that those local would have been part of a broader settlement and subsistence system which included complementaty open air sites at lower altitudes above sea level within the same region to the east, offering diffrent resources. The main activity at the caves and rock shelter occupations would have been hearding (basic economic activity) and hunting. The open air sites would have been provided an economic complement with restricted agriculture towards Alto Sapagua-Hornaditas.