A03_P14

Human occupation sequence in the context of an archaeological site of Salapunku (Cusco, Peru)

Sieczkowska D¹, Rakowski A², Pawlyta J⁴, Bastante J³,1 Ziółkowski M¹

¹ University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland, ²SUT, Gliwice, Poland, ³National Archaeological Park of Machupicchu, Cusco, Peru, ⁴AGH, Kraków, Poland

The Salapunku archaeological site is located within the Machupicchu National Archaeological Park in the Cusco area of Peru. Although Salapunku is located in the area of the Inca-related Machupicchu, within the archaeological site during the archaeological work it was possible to distinguish different moments of multicultural presence which allowed the creation of a sequence of human occupation in the study region. The Inca occupation phase is the most recent use of the site, but in earlier periods there were human settlements in this area associated with the Killke culture and even with human presence during the local formative period. Previous research on the chronology of the site was based on typological analyses of pottery and other artefacts found during excavations. With research extended by radiocarbon analyses, it has been possible to establish a chronology of settlement development in this part of the Park considered to be the gateway to the Cordillera of Vilcabamba. The purpose of this presentation is to show the recent findings of human presence in this area and its possible relation to climate/environment changes.