Jeffrey Quilter

The Ancient Central Andes presents a general overview of the prehistoric peoples and cultures of the Central Andes, the region now encompassing most of Peru and significant parts of Ecuador, Bolivia, northern Chile, and northwestern Argentina.The book contextualizes past and modern scholarship and provides a balanced view of current research. Two opening chapters present the intellectual, political, and practical background and history of research in the Central Andes and the spatial, temporal, and formal dimensions of the study of its past. Chapters then proceed in chronological order from remote antiquity to the Spanish Conquest. A number of important themes run through the book, including: the tension between those scholars who wish to study Peruvian antiquity on a comparative basis and those who take historicist approaches; the concept of "Lo Andino," commonly used by many specialists that assumes long-term, unchanging patterns of culture some of which are claimed to persist to the present; and culture change related to severe environmental events. Consensus opinions on interpretations are highlighted as are disputes among scholars regarding interpretations of the past.The Ancient Central Andes provides an up-to-date, objective survey of the archaeology of the Central Andes that is much needed. Students and interested readers will benefit greatly from this introduction to a key period in South America’s past.

The Ancient Central Andes presents a general overview of the prehistoric peoples and cultures of the Central Andes, the region now encompassing most of Peru and significant parts of Ecuador, Bolivia, northern Chile, and northwestern Argentina.The book contextualizes past and modern scholarship and provides a balanced view of current research. Two opening chapters present the intellectual, political, and practical background and history of research in the Central Andes and the spatial, temporal, and formal dimensions of the study of its past. Chapters then proceed in chronological order from remote antiquity to the Spanish Conquest. A number of important themes run through the book, including: the tension between those scholars who wish to study Peruvian antiquity on a comparative basis and those who take historicist approaches; the concept of "Lo Andino," commonly used by many specialists that assumes long-term, unchanging patterns of culture some of which are claimed to persist to the present; and culture change related to severe environmental events. Consensus opinions on interpretations are highlighted as are disputes among scholars regarding interpretations of the past.The Ancient Central Andes provides an up-to-date, objective survey of the archaeology of the Central Andes that is much needed. Students and interested readers will benefit greatly from this introduction to a key period in South America’s past.

The glories of Inca and Pre-Columbian South America are vividly captured in this richly illustrated story of the rise and fall of the people of the region. The civilization's superbly imaginative craftsmanship in gold and silver, its beautiful textiles, embroidery, ceramics, and architecture are featured in spectacular color photography. Besides the magnificent artistic legacy that survived the ravages of the Conquistadors in the sixteenth century, this lavish volume celebrates the beliefs, deities, myth making, empire building, and often turbulent history that were the foundation of the artwork and literature. Some of the most dramatic sites of South America are featured, including Machu Picchu and Cuzco, the oracle at Pachacamac, the mysterious Nazca lines, and the imperial city of Chan Chan. Author Jeffrey Quilter, an anthropological archaeologist, is a specialist in Pre-Columbian culture, deputy director of the Peabody Museum, and a senior lecturer at Harvard University.

Life and Death at Paloma, when published in 1989, was the first in-depth treatment of burials from a preagricultural South American village. It remains a valuable resource used by students and scholars of Andean archaeology. Jeffrey Quilter analyzes the life of Paloma's people during the transition from a hunting-gathering-fishing way of life to a more sedentary horticultural society and offers a study of preceramic Peruvian life through his analysis of this site's graves and their contents.

The author tells of the excavation of Rivas, a great ceremonial centre at the foot of the Talamanca Mountain range which flourished between AD900 and 1300. He discusses Rivas' builders and users, theories on chiefdom societies and the daily interactions and surprises of modern archeology.