The lowland American tropics have posed great challenges for archaeologists. Working in awkward terrain, in humid conditions where preservation is difficult, modern scholars pioneered new methods that increasingly influence archaeological practice internationally. The contributors to this volume all have substantial experience in the region. Their essays explore problems of site discovery, excavation, the preservation of artifacts and osteological and botanical remains, and methods of analysis. Specific technical innovations are discussed in relation to particular excavations.
The lowland American tropics have posed great challenges for archaeologists. Working in awkward terrain, in humid conditions where preservation is difficult, modern scholars pioneered new methods that increasingly influence archaeological practice internationally. The contributors to this volume all have substantial experience in the region. Their essays explore problems of site discovery, excavation, the preservation of artifacts and osteological and botanical remains, and methods of analysis. Specific technical innovations are discussed in relation to particular excavations.
Challuabamba (chi-wa-bamba)—now a developing suburb of Cuenca, the principal city in the southern highlands of Ecuador—has been known for a century as an ancient site that produced exceptionally fine