Domestic Artifact Assemblages and Ritual Activities in the Bolivian Formative

Abstract

Survey and excavation in Oruro, Bolivia, have begun to reveal the nature of residential life during the Formative Period (1800 B.C.–A.C. 300) in central highland Bolivia. This report presents the results of recent investigations at the “Wankarani complex” site of San Andres. Excavation revealed clusters of clay figurines, grinding stones, and chipped stone bifaces in domestic contexts. Patterns of interassemblage variability and differential discard at the site suggest such artifacts were placed in ritual caches.