Technology: Ideology, Economics and Power in the Andes

UCL Institute of Archaeology | 16-18 June 2015

Organisers: Bill Sillar, Viviana Siveroni and Miguel Fuentes
Sponsors: UCL Institute of Archaeology, the Institute of Latin American Studies, University
of London

Conference Theme

Economic and ideological concerns both influenced the development and deployment of
Ancient technologies, and researchers working in the Andes have been at the forefront of
archaeological studies of these issues. Heather Lechtmans proposal of technological style
included an assertion that cosmology and cultural values influenced metal working techniques,

and similar concerns are seen in Izumi Shimadas analysis of cross-craft technologies. Cathy
Costin and Dean Arnolds analysis have also helped to show how social, economic and
environmental influences affected the scale and organisation of craft production. A pertinent
question for these studies is the degree to which the Andean region is merely an exemplar of
global trends and the degree to which it presents unique situations (e.g. due to the development
of complex societies without a significant market economy).
In this conference consideration will be given to how ideology and symbolism as well as
economic systems and political control helped to shape technological change, in order to
discuss how these perspectives can be combined within our analytical methods and
interpretations. Papers are invited that draw upon recent fieldwork and material analysis to
debate what influenced the choice of techniques and the scale of production within Andean
crafts, construction and agricultural technologies.
While the conference will focus primarily on pre-Columbian examples, the organisers are
conscious of issues such as the economic, environmental and social impact of current mining
practice and encourage participants to reflect on the relevance of their research for the region
today.
Issues for Debate

Did Andean technologies evolve in distinct ways to other parts of the world?
Are regional technological differences due to specific landscape and resources, social
and economic systems, or a distinctive world view?
Does the absence of a strong market economy (with the assumption of a greater focus
on labour exchange, reciprocity and redistribution) alter the economic values that
shaped technological development?
Did the absence of the wheel, the pulley, the saw, iron and glass production or traction
animals significantly affect the direction of technical innovation and the use of labour?
Can analysis of craft production and distribution be used to affirm, or question, current
models for social and economic organisation in the ancient Andes?
To what extent were craft production and agricultural production understood or
organised as distinct activities, and to what extent should we separate them in our
analysis?
Did the cultural and ritual significance of the location of raw materials influence their
selection, or was it the intrinsic physical qualities of the materials themselves? How can
we evaluate this?
Who controlled the supply of raw materials and labour? How could production and
distribution be controlled?
To what extent did the politics of territoriality, conquest, domination and resistance
influence Andean technology?
Did concepts such as material essence, animism or kamay affect the practice of
technology in the Andes? How can we demonstrate this?
To what extent did efficiency of production and economy of scale influence the
development of technological innovation in the Andes?
In what ways did the intended function of an object influence how it was made?
What were the environmental and social impacts of pre-Colombian materials
extraction, fuel selection and technological choices?
Was there, or could there ever have been, an industrial revolution in the Andes?

In what ways did technological practice and the economics of production change after
the Spanish conquest?
Can our materials analysis reveal Andean value systems?
What are the main restrictions that affect our analysis of ancient Andean technologies
today?
Can our analysis of Ancient Andean technology contribute to debates about the
economic, environmental and social impact of technological choices today?

Conference Structure
The conference will consist of two days of presented papers, followed by a half day round table
discussion. The organisers particularly welcome papers that address some of the issues for
debate above. These issues, as well as topics raised by the presented papers, will be used to
develop the round table debate and publication plans.

Call for Papers

Heather Lechtman, Cathy Costin, Izumi Shimada and Pablo Cruz have agreed to give
presentations. Pierre Lemonnier and Ian Freestone have agreed to act as discussants.
The organisers expect to include 14 presentations, and will also run a poster session. If you
would like to give a paper or provide a poster, could you please send a title and an abstract (of
around 200 words) to b.sillar@ucl.ac.uk by 14 December 2014.

Publication Plans
The conference will be used to develop a peer reviewed book for publication.
The organisers intend to publish with UCL Press, who have expressed interest in this proposal,
as this would allow the papers to be made freely available online as well as in print. The
published volume will include most of the papers presented at the conference, but it is expected
that papers will be re-worked to benefit from discussion during the conference.

All published papers must be an original piece of work. Most papers should use one or more
case studies to illustrate the questions and theoretical issues being addressed. Published papers
will need to clearly explain how their research methods address theoretical and cultural issues,
and be written in a way that will make them accessible to readers working outside the
geographical focus of the volume.
The volume will include an introduction outlining previous research into Andean Technology
and highlighting questions for debate, as well as a final section with three short critical
commentaries by Pierre Lemonnier, Ian Freestone and a researcher working in the Andes.

Conference Practicalities
Participants will have to find their own funding for their travel and accommodation. If needed
the organisers can help to find suitably priced accommodation close to UCL and the BM for
participants.
There will be a charge of 50 for the conference pack, lunch, teas, coffees and a conference
dinner.

Space for the round table discussion and conference dinner are limited and will be prioritised
for those presenting papers or posters.
Graduate students with valid ID from any university will not be charged to attend the
conference presentations (although numbers are limited by the size of the lecture room). The
organisers also welcome offers of papers from graduate research students, who have suitable
data and are exploring ideas relevant to the conference theme, please note the stage you are at
in your studies when submitting your abstract.
Venue: Bloomsbury, London

The conference will be held in the main lecture theatre of the UCL Institute of Archaeology,
and the round-table discussion will be held at Senate House, University of London. During the
conference a tour within the British Museum highlighting Andean material will be given by
the curator Jago Cooper.
Web:
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/archaeology/calendar/conferences/andean-technology