Spatial arrangements of settlements corresponding to the central third or Quilmes Mountain range during the Regional Developments and Inca Periods (Yocavil Valley-Tucumán)

Abstract

In this paper we present the analysis of the location of archaeological settlements from Late (900-1480 DC) and Inca (1480-1535 DC) periods in Tucuman portion of the Quilmes Ranges, and its relationship with the global climatic changes suffered during those times. Methodologically, we made the geomorpho-logical photointerpretation of the study area. Late sites wereidentified by aerophotointerpretation. After this,we made a pedestrian survey,and superficial materials were collected. Relative chronologies were deter-mined using ceramic and architectural chronologically known features for the region. Finally, archaeological site distribution was established and associated with previously knownclimatic variations. Late (900-1480 AC) and Inca (1480-1535 AC) settlements were arranged over slopes, secondary fluvial valleys, fluvio-alluvial fans and bottom valleys. With the Medieval Climatic Anomaly, dry weather would had pushed the concentration of population in the apex ofthe fans and secondary fluvial valleys with water availability for quotidian activities and agriculture, nevertheless middle and distal parts of the fans could have still been used with artificial irrigation, and later by wet conditions of Little Ice Age.