Identifying mortuary ritual and ancestor veneration : a spatial analysis of the tombs at Hualcayan

Abstract

This study is an investigation of the ritual activity associated with ancestor veneration in the Peruvian Andes through a survey of eighty tombs at the site of Hualcayan, located in the Callejon de Huaylas. The location of each of the tombs was recorded in order to map the distribution as a whole. Information about the form, size, and artifacts associated with each tomb was recorded. The results show great variation in size and complexity among the tombs at this site. The practice of ancestor veneration is evident at Hualcayan from the structure of tombs and associated artifacts as well as the use of space surrounding the tombs. In addition, the distribution of the tombs as a whole across the landscape shows a pattern of clustering. This was likely based on the topography and could also reflect cultural choices.