The provincial Inka center of Tambo Viejo

Abstract

The south coast of Peru was one of the regions annexed by the Inka state, Tawantinsuyu. Several provincial centers were established in the region, including Tambo Viejo in the Acari valley. The newly built Inka centers were connected by the royal highway that crossed the coastal desert. These imperial facilities were large and obviously different from any local settlements, making it clear that the Inka state invested a major effort in building the provincial centers. However, with the rare exception of La Centinela, the former capital of the Chincha kingdom, the Inka provincial centers of the South Coast have not been the subject of systematic research. As a result, their roles remain uncertain. Here, we present the case of Tambo Viejo. Recently, archaeological research was carried out at this Inka center to determine its function. The results of these investigations allow us to discuss, for the first time, the activities performed at the site and put forth ideas as to the role of this important Inka provincial center.