Doctoral Dissertation Improvement Grant: More than Forts: A Study of High Elevation Enclosures within the Pambamarca Fortress Complex, Ecuador

博士论文改进补助金：不仅仅是堡垒：厄瓜多尔潘巴马卡堡垒建筑群内高海拔围墙的研究

• 批准号: 1029029
• 负责人: Timothy Chevral
• 金额: $ 2万
• 依托单位: SUNY at Buffalo
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2010
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2010-08-15 至 2013-07-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1029029&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Doctoral; Dissertation; Improvement; Grant; More

Under the supervision of Dr. Tina Thurston, Amber Kling will analyze data gathered during archaeological excavations at six High Elevation Enclosures (HEEs) found in the highlands of Northern Ecuador at the Pambamarca Fortress Complex. Here, the Inca constructed a series of 14 tightly clustered fortresses towards the end of the 15th century as they struggled to conquer the indigenous groups in the area and expand their Empire northwards. In this highly contested peripheral region, numerous large and small fortifications were erected in groups, a feature rarely found elsewhere with such high numbers or close proximities. This research will specifically focus on the six smallest enclosures in the area that have been labeled as outposts due to their small size and lack of features, but have never been extensively studied or excavated. In general, these HEEs lack the military attributes many of the larger fortresses in the area contain, and instead possess other distinct traits, such as a conscious incorporation of bedrock outcrops, unique physical and spatial placements within the landscape, and various sight lines to important ceremonial and sacred features in the area. These characteristics make the HEEs interesting cases for potential ideological markers or even ritually important places like huacas (sacred landscape features worshipped by the Inca and incorporated into many aspects of their lives) that would have had profound meanings and functions within such a heavily militarized landscape. Religion and ideology were known to be powerful driving forces behind Inca conquest and were woven into many aspects of Inca life: such a heavily war-driven landscape would be an ideal place to see the melding of these worlds. Work here may also help further understand the struggle the Inca had in conquering the region, as well as shed more light on the different military, political, economic and social tactics the Inca undertook on the northern frontier as opposed to their operations on the southern and eastern borders. Methodologically, magnetometry, resistivity and geochemistry will be used, as these techniques are non-destructive and efficient. However, they tend to be lacking in Ecuadorian archaeology, so this project may prove their efficacy to other researchers and could be used by others in the future, especially as modern needs (roads, farming, tower construction) see many sites modified or destroyed. Excavation will also be used to determine the true functions of these enclosures, whether military, religious, or a combination of the two, and will offer valuable insight into imperial sequences, militarized landscapes, and the use of the sacred as both a spiritual weapon and a legitimation device during the conquest and incorporation of resistant regions and frontiers. Such sequences are found archaeologically in global contexts, and are key elements in many modern conflicts, providing a cross-cultural comparison for interpreting such conditions in past and present cycles of conflict. A public website will be created to enhance visibility and data sharing, while publications and presentations will further communicate results to the scientific community. Furthermore, this project will assist in the continued training of the Co-PI as well as enhance methodological training for many American and Ecuadorian students who will work on the project.

在蒂娜·瑟斯顿博士的监督下，Amber Kling将分析在厄瓜多尔北部高原Pambamarca要塞建筑群的六个高海拔围墙（HEEs）考古发掘期间收集的数据。15世纪末，印加人在这里建造了14座密集的堡垒，以征服该地区的土著群体，并向北扩张帝国。在这个竞争激烈的外围地区，许多大大小小的防御工事被成群地竖立起来，这是在其他数量如此之多或距离如此之近的地方很少发现的特征。这项研究将特别关注该地区六个最小的围栏，这些围栏由于体积小且缺乏特征而被标记为前哨，但从未被广泛研究或挖掘。总的来说，这些HEEs缺乏该地区许多大型堡垒所具有的军事属性，而是具有其他独特的特征，例如有意识地结合基岩露头，景观中独特的物理和空间位置，以及该地区重要仪式和神圣特征的各种视线。这些特征使HEEs成为潜在意识形态标志的有趣案例，甚至是像花坛（印加人崇拜的神圣景观特征，融入他们生活的许多方面）这样具有重要仪式意义的地方，在这样一个高度军事化的景观中，它们将具有深刻的意义和功能。众所周知，宗教和意识形态是印加征服背后的强大推动力，并融入印加人生活的许多方面：这样一个饱受战争蹂躏的地区将是一个理想的地方，可以看到这些世界的融合。这里的工作也可能有助于进一步了解印加人在征服该地区的斗争，以及更多地揭示印加人在北部边境采取的不同的军事，政治，经济和社会策略，而不是他们在南部和东部边境的行动。在方法上，将使用磁力计、电阻率和地球化学，因为这些技术是无损和有效的。然而，它们在厄瓜多尔的考古中往往是缺乏的，所以这个项目可能会向其他研究人员证明它们的功效，并且可以在未来被其他人使用，特别是在现代需求（道路，农业，塔楼建设）看到许多遗址被修改或摧毁的情况下。挖掘还将用于确定这些围墙的真实功能，无论是军事，宗教还是两者的结合，并将提供有价值的见解，了解帝国序列，军事化景观，以及在征服和合并抵抗地区和边界期间将神圣作为精神武器和合法化装置的使用。这些序列在全球范围内的考古发现，是许多现代冲突的关键因素，为解释过去和现在的冲突周期中的这种情况提供了跨文化比较。将建立一个公共网站来增强可见性和数据共享，而出版物和报告将进一步向科学界传达结果。此外，该项目将协助继续培训联合项目负责人，并加强将参与该项目的许多美国和厄瓜多尔学生的方法培训。