The Ancient Central Andes presents a general overview of the prehistoric peoples and cultures of the Central Andes, the region now encompassing most of Peru and significant parts of Ecuador, Bolivia, northern Chile, and northwestern Argentina. The book contextualizes past and modern scholarship and provides a balanced view of current research. Two opening chapters present the intellectual, political, and practical background and history of research in the Central Andes and the spatial, temporal, and formal dimensions of the study of its past. Chapters then proceed in chronological order from remote antiquity to the Spanish Conquest.
A number of important themes run through the book, including: the tension between those scholars who wish to study Peruvian antiquity on a comparative basis and those who take historicist approaches; the concept of "Lo Andino," commonly used by many specialists that assumes long-term, unchanging patterns of culture some of which are claimed to persist to the present; and culture change related to severe environmental events. Consensus opinions on interpretations are highlighted as are disputes among scholars regarding interpretations of the past.
The Ancient Central Andes provides an up-to-date, objective survey of the archaeology of the Central Andes that is much needed. Students and interested readers will benefit greatly from this introduction to a key period in South America's past.
"Quilter's text is a succinct and up to date account of the cultural history of the Central Andes.? Period by period he cuts to the heart of the important developments, and provides students with a sense of the magnificence of ancient Andean civilization.? His explanations and interpretations of past events are clear, yet nuanced and balanced."? - Katharina Schreiber, University of California, Santa Barbara, USA.
"Quilter offers a readable introduction to the archaeology of the Central Andes (the region incorporated into the Inca Empire) and proves that study of the region's highly sophisticated and diverse archaeological cultures is critical for better understanding the human condition. Organizing his book according to the standard periodization of Andean culture history, Quilter presents a concise but engaging summary of the archaeological cultures of western South America? The book should appeal to non-Andeanists, for Quilter adeptly situates the study of the ancient Central Andes within the larger current of theoretical and methodological debates in archaeology while highlighting the different perspectives developed to reconstruct ancient South American social formations. Summing up: Highly recommended."-E.R. Swenson, University of Toronto, in CHOICE
