Andean Past Volume 8 Article 18 2007 The iV llage of Beringa at the Periphery of the Wari Empire: A Site Overview and New Radiocarbon Dates Tiffiny A. Tung Vanderbilt University, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/andean_past Part of the Archaeological Anthropology Commons Recommended Citation Tung, Tiffiny A. (2007) "The iV llage of Beringa at the Periphery of the Wari Empire: A Site Overview and New Radiocarbon Dates," Andean Past: Vol. 8 , Article 18. Available at: https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/andean_past/vol8/iss1/18 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by DigitalCommons@UMaine. It has been accepted for inclusion in Andean Past by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@UMaine. For more information, please contact [email protected]. THE VILLAGE OF BERINGA AT THE PERIPHERY OF THE WARI EMPIRE: A SITE OVERVIEW AND NEW RADIOCARBON DATES Tiffiny A. Tung Vanderbilt University INTRODUCTION While many scholars interpret the distribution of Wari sites and material remains as evidence for The Middle Horizon (A.D. 600-1000, abbrevi- Wari imperial expansion, others have doubted ated as MH) marks a significant change in An- that the Wari sphere of influence was geographi- dean prehistory. The expansive states of Wari1 cally great or ideologically dominant (Bawden and and Tiwanaku developed and incorporated vast Conrad 1982; Conrad 1981; Donnan and Mackey portions of the Andes for the first time. The Wari 1978; Shady 1989; Shimada 1990). In this per- Empire expanded beyond the Ayacucho Basin of spective, Wari is identified as one of several the central Andes to encompass most of highland autonomous states (Czwarno 1989), or as a con- and coastal Peru, excluding the area immediately federation of kin groups and lineages (John Topic around Lake Titicaca (Menzel 1977; Schreiber 1991; Topic and Topic 1985, 1992; Theresa Topic 1998). The coalescence of Wari authority and the 1991). Similarly, others have suggested that Wari broad extent of its influence are well established. was not expansionist, but was involved in long- However, the timing and tempo of this expansion distance trade with other polities, none of which in various regions remain ill-defined. Part of the wielded power over another (Shady 1982, 1988; evidence for Wari influence is the presence of Shady and Ruíz 1979). While some debate contin- distinctive Wari architecture in various regions ues regarding the nature of Wari rule and expan- both near to and far from the Wari capital. For sion, the evidence for Wari intrusion in the south- example, Azangaro (Anders 1991), Aqo Wayqo central Andes, including valleys such as Moque- (Ochatoma and Cabrera 2001), and Jincamocco gua (Williams 2001) and Majes cannot be ignored. (Schreiber 1992), all within the Department of Ayacucho, contain Wari architecture. Distant Much of what is known about Wari stems regions also have Wari style buildings. The sites of from important studies at major Wari centers in Viracochapampa and Honcopampa in the north the periphery and core (Anders 1991; Benavides (Isbell 1989; John Topic 1991), Pikillacta in the 1991; Cook 1992, 2001; Czwarno et al. 1989; Lucre Basin near Cusco (McEwan 1991), and Isbell 1989; Isbell and Cook 2002; Isbell et al. Cerro Baúl in the Moquegua Valley (Feldman 1991; Knobloch 1991; McEwan 1996; Schreiber 1989; Moseley et al. 1991; Williams 2001) to- 1992; John Topic 1991; Williams 2001). Several gether illustrate the extent of Wari power (Figure of these studies have established that new con- 1). Wari ceramics also have been documented at struction events and possible imperial reorganiza- numerous Andean sites, suggesting that Wari tion occurred around A.D. 800-900 (Anders influence was far reaching (Schreiber 1992). 1991; Isbell 1991; Ketteman 2002; Williams 2001). However, relatively less is known about smaller villages in the periphery of the Wari 1 Following Isbell (2001:456-458), “Huari” here refers to the empire during the era of Wari dominance, particu- urban site in the Department of Ayacucho and features larly in terms of the timing and effects of this associated with it specifically, while “Wari” refers to the prehistoric culture, polity, and style widely distributed beyond foreign influence. the city. ANDEAN PAST 8 (2007): 253-286. ANDEAN PAST 8 (2007) - 254 New calibrated dates from Conchopata in the The habitational and mortuary site of Beringa, Wari core establish the rise of Wari around A.D. in the Majes Valley, is ideal for a study of the 600 (Ketteman 2002). The second largest Wari effects of Wari imperial expansion and reorganiza- site, Pikillacta, shows occupation beginning tion. The data presented in this article add impor- around A.D. 650 (McEwan 1996)2 and abandon- tant details to the growing spatial and temporal ment starting by A.D. 1000 (Glowacki 2005). map of Wari. The data derive from excavations Radiocarbon dates from the northern site of and surface collections conducted by the Beringa Honcopampa also show initial occupation in the Bioarchaeology and Archaeology Project that I seventh century A.D., lasting until the end of the directed from May to July 2001.4 These excava- tenth century (Isbell 1989). To the far south, the tions have revealed that Beringa was a village with important Wari outpost of Cerro Baúl in the domestic and mortuary contexts dating to the first Moquegua Valley was established in the seventh half of the MH and the first part of the Late century A.D. and occupied until the end of the Intermediate Period (LIP). Evidence for Wari first millennium (based on radiocarbon dates; influence is clearly seen in a variety of artifacts at Williams 2001). As I will demonstrate, Wari sites in the Majes Valley and its tributaries (García influence began in the Majes Valley around the and Bustamante 1990; Malpass 2001), but the site same time that Cerro Baúl was established, aproxi- of Beringa itself does not appear to have been a mately A.D. 650. This supports the notion of a Wari administrative center. Instead, it was a southward expansion by Wari during the latter community of commoners and local elites, not part of the seventh century A.D.3 unlike other MH settlements in the valley (García and Bustamante 1990). Therefore, Beringa is an About two centuries after the settlement of excellent case study of community lifeways at the Cerro Baúl, the site was remodeled (Williams periphery of the Wari empire. Here we can see 2001). This coincided with a general reorganiza- how changes documented elsewhere affected a tion of Wari, as seen through remodeling events at hinterland community within the southern Wari core Wari sites such as Conchopata (Isbell and sphere. Cook 2002; Ketteman 2002) and the Moradu- chayuq compound at Huari itself (Isbell, et al. THE MAJES VALLEY 1991). Additionally, the site of Azángaro in the Wari core was not constructed until cal. A.D. Beringa is in the middle Majes Valley (part of 685-987 (Anders 1991:185), when imperial reor- the Colca-Majes-Camaná drainage) in the Depart- ganization appears to have been in progress. If ment of Arequipa in southern Peru. It stands at these remodeling and new construction events are 700 masl (Figures 1 and 2). The site is 75 aerial indicative of broader restructuring, then it is km from the Pacific coast, atop a long alluvial important to document how this activity affected terrace approximately 50 m above the Majes village sites at the periphery of the Wari empire. River. The valley is bounded by steep cliffs that rise approximately 800 m above its floor (Figure 3). The arid Majes-Ocoña Pampa and the Majes- 2 That is A.D. 530-825, calibrated 2 sigma; Curve intercept Siguas Pampa flank the valley (Figure 4). = A.D. 655; Sample No. Tx 4751)(Glowacki 2005). 3 Radiocarbon dates presented by Ketteman (2002), Williams (2001), and this author are calibrated at 2 sigma using the probability distribution method with Calib 4.3.2 (Stuiver and Reimer 1993). Dates by Glowacki (2005) are calibrated at 2 sigma using the curve intercept method. Earlier published 4One of the primary goals of this project was to examine the dates (e.g., from Azángaro and Honcopampa) that were not impact of Wari influence on the health status of the Beringa originally calibrated are calibrated here at 2 sigma using the community, therefore, the focus was on recovery and analysis probability distribution method with Calib 4.4.2 (Stuiver and of human skeletal remains. Those bioarchaeological results Reimer 1993). are presented elsewhere (Tung 2003). 255 - Tung: Village of Beringa The Majes Valley is home to an abundance and documented a series of agglutinated struc- of riverine and agricultural resources. Today, the tures that resemble Wari patio groups. Majes River provides habitat for large popula- tions of river shrimp (Cryphiops caementarius), an Wari centers also have been reported for indigenous species that was consumed in pre- higher altitude areas of the region, but their hispanic times (see below), and freshwater fish identification has been questioned. For example, such as pejerrey (Odontesthes bonariensis), which site number 8 in the Chuquibamba Valley was introduced to Peru in the 1950s (Welcomme (Sciscento 1989) and Achachiwa in the Colca 1988). Marine resources are also available albeit Valley (Vera Cruz 1996; Sciscento 1989) have at a distance. Beringa is adjacent to agriculturally been identified as possible Wari centers, but rich lands in the yungas, the warm, low altitude Katharina Schreiber (1992:104) doubts the Wari zone of the Majes Valley. Fruit trees such as designation for Achachiwa. However, there may pacay (Inga feuillei)5 and molle (Schinus molle) are be other Wari sites in the lower Colca Valley ubiquitous.