V. Edmundo Salinas Camacho
Dr. Diura Thoden van Velzen
The Archaeology and Anthropology Museum of the San Francisco Xavier de Chuquisaca University was founded on the 25th of May 1944 with the aim of investigating, recording and preserving the heritage of the Chuquisaca Department. Since its foundation it has been part of a cluster of University Museums called “Charcas”, housed in a 17th century colonial mansion on the Calle Bolivar. The museum includes an archaeological collection with objects that range from approximately 1600 BC up to the Spanish occupation in 1532 AD, as well as physical anthropology and modern ethnography sections. To enhance the visitors’ enjoyment and understanding of the collection all archaeological materials are displayed chronologically and according to artefact type.
At the heart of the museum’s activities is its research, which is undertaken by the CIAR (Centro de Investigación Arqueológica), its research branch. The CIAR works in close collaboration with local authorities and communities, and enjoys the support of national and foreign universities and research institutions.
Over the years the focus of research has shifted from collecting artefacts to reconstructing the dynamics of past societies. Current interests include, for example, the social and spatial organisation of prehispanic societies, and their technological development. This reconstruction is entirely based on the material culture remains of these people, as written sources for this period are not available. The results of the investigations are presented through events and publications, as well as temporary and permanent exhibits.
This book follows the organization of the exhibits to present an overview of Chuquisaca’s rich prehispanic past. It contains a chronological overview of local prehispanic cultures based on the study of pottery, a discussion of other artefacts such as arms and tools, an overview of the region’s rock art, as well as presentations on the museum’s current archaeology and physical anthropology research.