Abstract

URIBE R, Mauricio. Acerca de complejidad, desigualdad social y el complejo cultural Pica-Tarapacá en los Andes Centro-Sur (1000-1450 DC). Estud. atacam. [online]. 2006, n.31, pp. 91-114. ISSN 0718-1043.  http://dx.doi.org/10.4067/S0718-10432006000100007.

This paper's main purpose is to review the concepts of social complexity and inequality in order to reach an archaeological understanding of the systems developed by South Central Andes populations during Late Intermediate Period, on the basis of the case of the Pica-Tarapacá Cultural Complex in Chile's Norte Grande. We discuss the proposals that consider that post-Tiwanaku and pre-Inca Andean were highly segmented and/or hierarchical societies, that developed complex economic, identity and ethnic mechanisms with the purpose of maintaining ideas of community, solidarity and equality. Our work seeks to contribute to the recording, understanding and discussion of social evolution in South Central Andean societies, and by confronting different materials in the spatial framework of Tarapacá, as well as the reflective exercises of archaeology around these substantial social theory topics

Keywords : Pica; Tarapacá Cultural Complex; Late Intermediate Period; evolution, complexity and social inequality.