The UMMAA Brown Bag Lecture Series is pleased to present a lecture by Matthew Brown, PhD candidate in anthropological archaeology at the University of Michigan, on Thursday, November 9, 12-1 p.m. Please join us for "Muyumoqo: Preliminary Results from a Late Formative (600 BCE - 200 CE) Center in Cusco, Peru" in the School of Education Building, Room 1322, 610 E. University Avenue, Ann Arbor, MI.
Despite the long history of archaeological interest in the Cusco region of Peru, research on pre-Inka societies has lagged behind other regions of the Andes. In particular, our understanding of the Late Formative (600 BCE - 200 CE) remains underdeveloped. Based on extensive surveys and limited excavation data, it has been argued that significant changes occurred in the economic and political realms during this period. The Late Formative is hypothesized to have been a time of increasing political complexity and expanding engagement in interregional exchange. However, the process behind how these changes came about remains unclear. In this talk, Brown will utilize data from both regional surveys as well as excavations at various sites throughout the region to detail the current state of knowledge on Formative Cusco. He will also present the results of two seasons of excavations at the site of Muyumoqo, a potential Late Formative political and economic center located in the Chit'apampa Basin. Extensive horizontal excavations have provided supporting evidence for Muyumoqo's role as an economic and political center during the Late Formative. The site appears distinct from other known Late Formative communities and may provide early evidence for the consumption of chicha. Finally, Brown will briefly discuss the finding of a potential, persistent household ritual practice.
The Museum’s Brown Bag Lecture Series is free and open to the public.
