9321605 Bermann Under the direction of Dr. Marc Bermann, Mr. Alvaro Higueras-Hare will collect data for his doctoral dissertation. He will conduct archaeological survey and excavation in two areas of the Cochabamba Valley which is located on the subtropical eastern slopes of the Bolivian Andes.These valleys include distinct ecozones, some with significantly higher agricultural potential than others. Mr. Higueras-Hare will select two which vary along this axis and compare their land use over time. To accomplish this he will conduct a regional survey noting both differences in agricultural potential and the distribution of archaeological sites over time. With the use of GIS techniques he will map variations in agricultural potential and then compare the archaeological trajectory of high and low producing areas. In particular he is interested in the transition from pre-Tiwanaku to Tiwanaku times. Archaeological evidence indicates that large scale prehispanic states developed in the Andean region. Empires repeatedly expanded and incorporated smaller adjacent entities. This process occurred on a worldwide basis but is particularly interesting in the Andes because of the strong attitudinal zonation in the region. Given the need to obtain products from different ecological zones, what strategies did groups employ to accomplish this? What economic and political mechanisms were thus developed? Many models have been proposed. The Tiwanaku empire had its origin in highland Bolivia. Although it's influence was widely felt, it is unclear just how it interacted with important outlying regions. The Cochabamba Valleys constitute such an area and through study of subregions of both high and low agricultural potential, Mr. Higueras-Hare hopes to learn how the Valley was tied into the Tiwanaku subsistence net. This research is important for several reasons. It will increase our understanding of the interaction between human societies and the environment in which they exist. It will shed new light on the growth of complex societies and assist in the training of a promising young scientist. ***
