Drought, Resilience and Conflict in the Pre-Columbian Andes of Capricorn (1000-1500 CE)

Abstract ID: 3.11432 | Not reviewed | Requested as: Talk | TBA | TBA

Mariano Morales (1)
Axel, Nielsen (2); Duncan, Christie (3); Ricardo, Villalba (1)

(1) Instituto Argentino de Nivologia Glaciologia y Cs. Ambientales (IANIGLA-CONICET), Av. Ruiz Leal s/n, CP 5502, Mendoza, Argentina
(2) CONICET - Instituto de Arqueología, FFyL, UBA, Ciudad Universitaria, Ciudad Autonoma Buenos Aires, Argentina
(3) Instituto de Conservación Biodiversidad y Territorio, Universidad Austral de Chile, Campus Isla Teja, Valdivia, Chile

Categories: Archaeology, Ecosystems, Paleoclimatology, Paleoperspective
Keywords: Droughts, Social conflict, Andes of Capricorn

Categories: Archaeology, Ecosystems, Paleoclimatology, Paleoperspective
Keywords: Droughts, Social conflict, Andes of Capricorn

Abstract
The content was (partly) adapted by AI
Content (partly) adapted by AI

Before the Inca expansion (13th-15th centuries), the Central Andes (~10°-25°S) experienced endemic warfare, often linked to severe droughts. Water scarcity, reduced agricultural productivity, and resource competition are proposed triggers for these conflicts, though the climate-conflict mechanisms remain underexplored. Paleoclimatic records from the South American Altiplano (18°S-22°S) reveal recurrent droughts with regional variations due to complex topography, shaping local adaptation strategies and resilience. During the Late Precolumbian Period (LPP; 1000-1450 CE), populations in the Andes of Capricorn (20°-24°S) concentrated in Altiplano basins and mid-altitude valleys, relying on diversified agropastoral economies. This study integrates paleoclimatic data from the South American Drought Atlas (SADA) with archaeological evidence to assess the relationship between climate fluctuations, economic failure, and conflict in three regions: Northern Lípez (NL), Río Grande de San Juan (RGSJ), and Quebrada de Humahuaca (QH). Conflict indicators are chronologically analyzed and compared with drought records to evaluate potential correlations. Results reveal six significant droughts (1200-1500 CE): three prolonged (~20 years) and three shorter (5-6 years). The 1222-42 drought was particularly severe in QH and RGSJ, while NL experienced sustained deficits from ~1350-1400. Defensive settlements, signaling conflict onset, emerged in RGSJ (1205-1261), QH (1236-1311), and NL (1271-1340). NL’s vulnerability stemmed from its reliance on dry farming; pressure to access irrigated valleys to the east and south likely triggered early conflicts in RGSJ, which later spread to QH and NL, reflecting both environmental stress and inter-ethnic rivalries. Environmental deterioration affected each region differently, depending on resource availability and economic vulnerability. Adaptive strategies—labor intensification, area expansion, irrigation, and resource redistribution—required new political agreements to secure cooperation across regions. However, the absence of such interregional accords led to persistent conflicts for two centuries until Inca integration.