THE MOUNTAINS AS ARCHAEOLOGICAL INDICATORS OF THE SACRALITY OF LOS CAÑARIS

Abstract

Even though ethnohistory has produced abundant information regarding local peoples, archeology has not managed to sufficiently define the materiality of Cañari society yet. Therefore, this research aims to contribute to the study of mounds of earth or platforms located on the summits of the hills, and hills crowned with stones that are situated in the central south and south Andean region of Ecuador from the bibliographic tracking, and using analytical, synthetic and empirical methods. These archaeological contexts are studied and compared with the local-people ethnohistorical information. In addition, the archaeological contexts found at Cerro Puñay and Guiñayzhu sites are also studied. It is assumed that there is a recurrence of these vestiges in the region attached to the prehispanic cañaris. It is believed that all these evidences are related to the rituality of the hills and that their knowledge is important for the strengthening of the Andean culture and identity.