Cited by 2Archaeological and Geological StudiesArchaeological Research and ProtectionArchaeology and ancient environmental studies

Points, patterns, and predictions in archaeological settlement data: site-environment relationships of paracas and nasca communities in the peruvian andes

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Bilotti, Giacomo, Reindel, Markus, Isla, Johny, Mader, Christian·2025·Journal of Archaeological Science

Abstract

This paper provides a framework for studying settlement patterns during pre-Inka times in the western Andes, using Point Pattern Analysis (PPA). The technique has found limited application in the Andean region, partly due to data availability and historical research trajectories. This study aims to fill this gap and employs PPA to analyze settlement patterns and site-environment relationships in the Palpa valleys of the western Andes during the Paracas (800–160 BCE) and Nasca (160 BCE–620 CE) periods. Our analysis examines the spatial structure of prehispanic settlements in relation to landscape features, identifying factors influencing site location choices and their evolution over time. Furthermore, we use the results from PPA to predict site intensity in nearby regions that were only marginally investigated archaeologically in order to identify the most relevant areas for future research activity. The performance of the model proposed here is tested at different levels in order to improve our knowledge and increase the fit of the final model. The results show changes over time in the occupation of the landscape, most of which were directed towards optimizing agricultural production. However, we have also detected a strong impact of mobility during certain periods and inter-site interaction.

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Research works printed but not linked: 13

  1. 2009, Chapter 1: predictive modeling of mineral exploration targets, 3
  2. Gorbahn, 2020, Pernil alto: an agricultural village of the middle archaic period in Southern Peru, Forschungen zur Archäologie Außereuropäischer Kulturen, 17
  3. Hijmans, 2023, Geodata: download geographic data, R package version 0.6-2
  4. Isla, 2010, Perspectivas sobre el proceso cultural en los valles de Palpa, costa sur del Perú, vol. 5, 15
  5. Isla, 2018, La transición Paracas-Nasca en los valles de Palpa, Boletín de Arqueología PUCP, 25, 173
  6. Isla, 2003, Jauranga: Un sitio Paracas en el valle de Palpa, costa sur del Perú, Beiträge zur Allgemeinen und Vergleichenden Archäologie, 23, 227
  7. Lambers, 2006, The Geoglyphs of Palpa, Peru: Documentation, Analysis, and Interpretation, Forschungen zur Archäologie Außereuropäischer Kulturen 2, Linden Soft, Aichwald
  8. Mader, 2019, Sea shells in the Mountains and Llamas on the Coast: the Economy of the Paracas culture (800 to 200 BC) in Southern Peru, vol. 16
  9. Reindel, 2001, Los Molinos und La Muña: Zwei Siedlungszentren der Nasca-Kultur in Palpa, Südperu, Beiträge zur Allgemeinen und Vergleichenden Archäologie, 21, 241
  10. Reindel, 2015, Paracas en Palpa: los fundamentos del poder de la cultura Nasca, Peruvian Archaeology, 2, 37
  11. Reindel, 2006, Altares en el desierto: las estructuras de piedra sobre los geoglifos Nasca en Palpa, Arqueología y Sociedad, 17, 179
  12. Soßna, 2012, Los patrones de asentamiento del Periodo Intermedio Temprano en Palpa, costa sur del Perú, Zeitschrift für Archäologie Außereuropäischer Kulturen, 4, 207
  13. Tosi, 1960, Zonas de vida natural en el Perú: memoria explicativa sobre el Mapa Ecológico del Perú, Instituto Interamericano de Ciencias Agrícolas de la OEA, Zona Andina

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Authors
Bilotti, G., Reindel, M., Isla, J., & Mader, C.
Affiliations
  • Aarhus University (DK)
  • Ministry of Culture (PE)
Corresponding author
Bilotti, Giacomo
Venue
Journal of Archaeological Science
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2025-11
Volume
183
Pages
106385
ISSN
0305-4403 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W4414938137
Cited by
2
References
70
Citations by year
2026: 2
FWCI
6.03
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Journal of Archaeological Science (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • SSRN Electronic Journal (acceptedVersion)
  • Scopus (Elsevier) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Funders
  • Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen
  • Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (390683433, 290391021 \u2013 SFB 1266, EXC 2036/1\u20132020)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Archeology › Archaeological and Geological Studies
  • Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Space and Planetary Science › Archaeological Research and Protection
  • Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Paleontology › Archaeology and ancient environmental studies
Keywords
Paracas culture, Nasca culture, western Andes, point pattern analysis, site location, agricultural production, mobility

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