Social Diversity, Ritual Encounter, and the Contingent Production of Tiwanaku

Bibliographic Data

ID2686888
AuthorsJohn W Janusek (corresponding author)
Year2013
Pages197-210
Publication date2013-12-31
Open AccessNo
TypeBOOK
VenueVisions of Tiwanaku (SOURCE_BOOK)
PublisherCotsen Institute of Archaeology Press (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.2307/j.ctvdjrrm3.17
OpenAlexW2921265135
ISBN9781938770630
LanguageEN
Citations received6

This chapter examines the dynamic interplay between social diversity, ritual encounters, and the production of Tiwanaku's sociopolitical landscape. Challenging traditional views of Tiwanaku as a monolithic and centrally controlled state, Janusek argues for a more nuanced understanding of its development. He posits that Tiwanaku's unique form of urbanism and political authority emerged from the contingent interactions of diverse social groups, facilitated by ritual practices. These rituals, often involving shared feasting and ceremonial consumption, served as crucial arenas for negotiating social differences, forging alliances, and constructing a shared sense of identity. The chapter explores how these ritual encounters, while contributing to a degree of social cohesion, also allowed for the persistence of local autonomy and social differentiation. Janusek's analysis highlights the importance of considering the agency of diverse social actors in shaping the trajectory of Tiwanaku's sociopolitical development, emphasizing the role of ritual practice in mediating social relations and constructing a dynamic and contested political landscape

Economics · Geography · Microeconomics · Sociology · Anthropology · Indigenous Studies and Ecology

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