Hillforts of the Ancient Andes - by Elizabeth N Arkush (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

By AD 1000, the Colla controlled the high-altitude plains near Lake Titicaca in southern Peru. They fought over the region for many centuries before becoming a subject people of the Inca (who described them as the most formidible foes they faced) circa 1450, and then of the Spanish in the sixteenth century.

Like any people at war, the Colla were not engaged in active conflict all of the time. But frequent warfare (perhaps over limited natural resources), along with drought and environmental changes, powerfully influenced the society's settlement choices and physical defenses, as well as their interaction with the landscape.

By focusing on the pre-Inca society in this key region of the Andes, Elizabeth Arkush demonstrates how a thorough archaeological investigation of these hillfort towns reveals new ways to study the sociopolitical organization of pre-Columbian societies.

Review Quotes

"Arkush argues convincingly that conflict developed from a combination of environmental, social, and historical factors that perpetuated a fragmented and violent political landscape. Recommended."--CHOICE


"Excellent. A great introduction to warfare archaeology, this book also provides a compelling argument for archaeology's ability to interpret political motivations through material remains."--Journal of Conflict Archaeology


"Meticulously researched, analytically incisive, and so clearly written that it is a pleasure to read."--H-Net Reviews

About the Author

Elizabeth N. Arkush is associate professor of anthropology at the University of Pittsburgh.