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PEru the implications of the skeletons in the cemetery. Analyses of the different tombs and equipment does suggest, though, that the pilgrimage had a distinctly local flavour before the Inca period. DNA and isotopic studies that are currently under way will clarify this issue. The logistics of the pilgrimage The Inca drive to transform the site extended well beyond the structures mentioned above. Our excavations have examined four other buildings that were constructed during this period. These are officially designated E8, B4, B15, and B3 (see plan on p.28). Of these, E8 made it possible to understand the economic role of the site, while B4 shed light on the welcome that pilgrims received upon their arrival. In B15 and B3 it is ceremonial and worship aspects that have been explored. Our economic building, E8, lies at the extreme north of the site. It consists of a large courtyard that covers 80m by 60m and is surrounded by a 2m-wide wall. At the rear are two parallel rows of 10 square sunken rooms, which appear to have been accessed via epimural paths; that is to say, from the top of the walls. At the front of these rows there is also a single, small room, which contained khipus. These are data recording instruments used by state officials in the Inca era. The khipus take the form of sets of cords of camelid wool or cotton, with knots of various types referring to quantities and categories. They can be thought of as a kind of account book. Excavations within the sunken rooms revealed they were warehouses that still contained traces of their former contents: various varieties of corn, calabashes, and other foodstuffs. These goods correspond to the product of chores: a form of tax levied by the Inca Empire on the provinces it of these rows there is also a single, small data recording instruments used by state the form of sets of cords of camelid wool . These are take rIGHT This beautiful early Ychsma-style urn, discovered in the large funerary chamber, is decorated with a pelican capturing a fish motif. Interestingly, the characteristic pocket under the beak of the bird is represented as a fishing net. controlled. It is possible that E8 played a hybrid role by also fulfilling the functions of tambo – that is to say, relay – for Inca officials on the road, and also the chaskis tasked with carrying messages across the Empire. In the south-western part of the Second Precinct we excavated a building, B4, that seems to be closely associated with the activities of the pilgrims. This structure covers approximately 4,025m², one-third of which comprises a courtyard and a LEfT This burial from the cemetery in front of the Pachacamac Temple is of an Ychsma adult male, who was revealed to have died of osteomyelitis – that is, inflammation of the bone or marrow – by Lawrence S Owens, Chief Anthropologist with the Ychsma Project. The deceased also had a benign cancer. A series of Spondylus shells on the shoulders and in the hands are a possible indicator of wealth. room, with a kind of ambulatory running around them. The pottery and faunal material from this building suggest that eating and drinking occurred here. Most of the species we identified are domestic ones that were raised for consumption, such as guinea pigs and camelids, while cut marks and intentional bone fractures are characteristic of animals that were slaughtered for food. The archaeological data suggest that the building was intended to accommodate pilgrims, and that meals were also prepared there, giving the space a commensal flavour. During the Early Colonial Period (16th century AD) the building continued to be occupied by locals, but they were probably mixing with people from overseas. Foreign species were present, such as pigs, oxen, sheep or goats, and horses or mules. Other testimonials of this contact include a horseshoe and fragments of Spanish manuscripts dating to the early 16th century. This suggests that the building underwent a major transformation from a space dedicated to pilgrim rituals and feasts to a domestic area that probably contained stables. We can suppose that the accommodation and festive role of manuscripts dating to the early 16th century. This suggests that the building underwent a major transformation from a space dedicated to pilgrim rituals and feasts to a domestic area that probably contained stables. We can suppose that the accommodation and festive role of this space initially attracted the Spanish, this space initially attracted the Spanish, who proceeded to transform it to meet who proceeded to transform it to meet their own needs. their own needs. Minor sanctuaries To the west of our reception suite lies a structure covering 1,700 m² that dates from the Late Horizon (AD 1470-1533). This is our building B3, which consists of three courtyards, the inner one providing access to a raised platform. The upper part is flat, while small sunken rooms lie to the rear, and a set of four rectangular warehouses are located to the west. building courtyards, the inner one providing access to a part is flat, while small sunken rooms lie to the rear, and a set of four rectangular warehouses are located to the west. www.world-archaeology.com CurrentWorldArChAeology 27

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PEru the implications of the skeletons in the cemetery. Analyses of the different tombs and equipment does suggest, though, that the pilgrimage had a distinctly local flavour before the Inca period. DNA and isotopic studies that are currently under way will clarify this issue.

The logistics of the pilgrimage The Inca drive to transform the site extended well beyond the structures mentioned above. Our excavations have examined four other buildings that were constructed during this period. These are officially designated E8, B4, B15, and B3 (see plan on p.28). Of these, E8 made it possible to understand the economic role of the site, while B4 shed light on the welcome that pilgrims received upon their arrival. In B15 and B3 it is ceremonial and worship aspects that have been explored.

Our economic building, E8, lies at the extreme north of the site. It consists of a large courtyard that covers 80m by 60m and is surrounded by a 2m-wide wall. At the rear are two parallel rows of 10 square sunken rooms, which appear to have been accessed via epimural paths; that is to say, from the top of the walls. At the front of these rows there is also a single, small room, which contained khipus. These are data recording instruments used by state officials in the Inca era. The khipus take the form of sets of cords of camelid wool or cotton, with knots of various types referring to quantities and categories. They can be thought of as a kind of account book. Excavations within the sunken rooms revealed they were warehouses that still contained traces of their former contents: various varieties of corn, calabashes, and other foodstuffs. These goods correspond to the product of chores: a form of tax levied by the Inca Empire on the provinces it of these rows there is also a single, small data recording instruments used by state the form of sets of cords of camelid wool

. These are take rIGHT This beautiful early Ychsma-style urn, discovered in the large funerary chamber, is decorated with a pelican capturing a fish motif. Interestingly, the characteristic pocket under the beak of the bird is represented as a fishing net.

controlled. It is possible that E8 played a hybrid role by also fulfilling the functions of tambo – that is to say, relay – for Inca officials on the road, and also the chaskis tasked with carrying messages across the Empire.

In the south-western part of the Second Precinct we excavated a building, B4, that seems to be closely associated with the activities of the pilgrims. This structure covers approximately 4,025m², one-third of which comprises a courtyard and a

LEfT This burial from the cemetery in front of the Pachacamac Temple is of an Ychsma adult male, who was revealed to have died of osteomyelitis – that is, inflammation of the bone or marrow – by Lawrence S Owens, Chief Anthropologist with the Ychsma Project. The deceased also had a benign cancer. A series of Spondylus shells on the shoulders and in the hands are a possible indicator of wealth.

room, with a kind of ambulatory running around them. The pottery and faunal material from this building suggest that eating and drinking occurred here. Most of the species we identified are domestic ones that were raised for consumption, such as guinea pigs and camelids, while cut marks and intentional bone fractures are characteristic of animals that were slaughtered for food.

The archaeological data suggest that the building was intended to accommodate pilgrims, and that meals were also prepared there, giving the space a commensal flavour. During the Early Colonial Period (16th century AD) the building continued to be occupied by locals, but they were probably mixing with people from overseas. Foreign species were present, such as pigs, oxen, sheep or goats, and horses or mules. Other testimonials of this contact include a horseshoe and fragments of Spanish manuscripts dating to the early 16th century. This suggests that the building underwent a major transformation from a space dedicated to pilgrim rituals and feasts to a domestic area that probably contained stables. We can suppose that the accommodation and festive role of manuscripts dating to the early 16th century. This suggests that the building underwent a major transformation from a space dedicated to pilgrim rituals and feasts to a domestic area that probably contained stables. We can suppose that the accommodation and festive role of this space initially attracted the Spanish,

this space initially attracted the Spanish,

who proceeded to transform it to meet who proceeded to transform it to meet their own needs.

their own needs.

Minor sanctuaries To the west of our reception suite lies a structure covering 1,700 m² that dates from the Late Horizon (AD 1470-1533). This is our building B3, which consists of three courtyards, the inner one providing access to a raised platform. The upper part is flat, while small sunken rooms lie to the rear, and a set of four rectangular warehouses are located to the west.

building courtyards, the inner one providing access to a part is flat, while small sunken rooms lie to the rear, and a set of four rectangular warehouses are located to the west.

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