IN-PERSON Barcelona. Section B

Abstract

The research focuses on the Inca Ceque System that organized the territory of Tahuantinsuyo. It related the layers of society, irrigation, taxation, agriculture, and sacred spaces. This complex territorial network extended radially to 42 different points of the empire from its center, Cusco. Understanding this system is essential to comprehend the territory, not just from a pre-Hispanic perspective but also for modern-day understanding and applications. While archaeologists and historians have studied the Ceques, there is still much to understand about their spatial and landscape organization. We aim to contribute to understanding their architectural and settlement patterns. This will help us identify possible lessons to apply in rural environments or as territorial planning strategies, such as water and land management. Our methodology is based on the discursive analysis of the main chronicles of the 17th century, along with research from Tom Zuidema, Brian Bauer, and Jeanette Sherbondy. We will conduct fieldwork on the group of three Ceques previously studied by Tom Zuidema and Brian Bauer, hoping to produce cartographic material that will help us understand and locate them in physical space. In summary, we aim to detect patterns of landscape and architecture that can be applied to contemporary times. This will contribute to managing the limited natural and economic resources and help face the challenges of territorial sustainability.