Dissertation Research: Prehistoric Andean Ethnicity

在George Cowgill博士的指导下，Vicki Cassman女士将为她的博士论文收集数据。她将分析位于智利非洲的三个史前墓地的遗骸，这些墓地的历史可以追溯到公元300-1200年之间。由于气候炎热干燥，人类遗骸和精美的文化材料被保存得非常完好，除了陶瓷器皿外，这些史前坟墓中还含有大量的纺织品。几十年的考古研究表明，智利的这片低地沿海地区至少曾经，也许是多次作为成群的人从安第斯高原向西迁移的目的地。卡斯曼女士希望了解文化接触的长期机制，并确定东道国和移民群体之间的长期互动是如何发展的。她将对被埋葬的尸体和包括在内的坟墓进行风格分析，以实现这一目标。纺织品在传统的安第斯文化中扮演着重要的角色，人们在纺织品的生产上付出了巨大的努力。布艺以其独特的图案，不仅具有实用和装饰的作用，而且具有民族标志的作用。它所包含的设计和编织方式揭示了它的佩戴者的地位和种族身份。因此，它为分析文化过程提供了一个极好的媒介。南美洲西部的安第斯山脉和沿海地区以强烈的纬向分带为特征。资源随着身高的变化而急剧变化，不同的群体在历史上和史前都采取了不同的策略来确保生存所需的不同商品的充足供应。在某些情况下，这是通过贸易实现的，在其他情况下，通过征服和殖民化。考古学家希望了解策略的范围，并确定采用不同方法的情况。通过使用太平间分析，卡斯曼女士将有一个独特的丰富的数据库来研究这个问题。这一结果将引起许多考古学家的兴趣。该项目还将帮助培训一位有前途的年轻科学家。

Cowgill Under the direction of Dr. George Cowgill, Ms. Vicki Cassman will collect data for her doctoral dissertation. She will analyze remains from three prehistoric cemeteries located in Arica, Chile and which date from the period between A.D. 300-1200. Because of the hot and dry climate human remains as well as delicate cultural materials are extremely well preserved, and in addition to ceramic vessels, these prehistoric graves contain abundant textiles. Decades of archaeological research have indicated that this lowland coastal area of Chile has served at least once and perhaps repeatedly as the destination for groups of individuals who moved westward out of the Andean highlands. Ms. Cassman wishes to understand the long-term mechanisms of culture contact and to determine how, over long periods of time interactions developed between host and immigrant groups. She will use stylistic analysis of both interred bodies and included grave goods to achieve this goal. Textiles play an important role in traditional Andean cultures and a great deal of effort goes into their production. Cloth, with its distinctive designs, serves not only utilitarian and decorative purposes, but also functions as an ethnic marker. The designs it contains and the manner in which it is woven reveals both the status and ethnic identity of its wearer. Therefore it provides an excellent medium for the analysis of cultural process. The Andean and Coastal region of Western South America is marked by strong latitudinal zonation. Resources change dramatically with height and different groups both historically, and presumably prehistorically adapted different strategies to assure an adequate supply of different goods needed for survival. In some cases this was achieved through trade, in others through conquest and in others through colonization. Archaeologists wish to understand the range of strategies and to determine the situations in which different approaches were employed. Through the use of mortuary analysis, Ms. Cassman will have a uniquely rich data base to examine this question. The results will be of interest to many archaeologists. The project will also assist in the training of a promising young scientist.