Leah Larsen
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Research Mentor(s): Matthew Brown
Research Mentor School/College/Department: Anthropology/University of Michigan Museum of Anthropological Archaeology / LSA
Program: UROP
Session: Session 4 (1:40pm – 2:30pm)
Authors: Leah Larsen, Matthew Brown
Abstract
Understanding past landscape use in Peru can provide important insights into human social organization. This research takes systematic regional survey data collected from my mentor and other researchers (information from pottery, tools, etc.) and maps likely settlements and patterns of travel using a Geographic Information System. This data looks at potential locations of prehistoric settlement – their estimated size, architecture, and types of artifacts found on the surface – in Cuzco, the Sacred Valley, and surrounding areas. These areas are important to survey because of the high amounts of activities/trading that took place between individual sites. From our research, my mentor and I are able to predict how these sites may or may not have been interconnected to one another. Studying pre-Inca societies and what they left behind allows us to explore the evolution of social organization. It tells us more about humans, whether that is the past, present, or future of human life. Current researchers are able to make hypotheses about systems of social organization with our data. We can offer a better understanding of how sites — whether used for residence, rituals, or farming — were connected to each other. The anthropology of these ancient peoples teaches us about cultural awareness and encourages future data analysis. It helps us understand where humans historically settled and why they settled in these areas. For instance, these patterns of settlement showed the sustainability of different landscape uses. Sites that were settled in more agriculturally productive areas may have had a better chance of surviving in the face of climate changes, food shortages, or disruptions to regional trade networks.
