THE CUEVA INCA VIEJO SITE, SALAR DE RATONES, PUNA DE SALTA: ARCHAEOLOGICAL EVIDENCE AND PROCESSES OF MACRO-REGIONAL INTERACTION

This paper presents the archaeological information of Cueva Inca Viejo site, located in Salar de Ratones basin (4.312 m a.s.l.), Puna of Salta, Northwest Argentina, dated ca. 860 AP. The presence of high diversity of archaeological materials from different sectors of the Puna, and other environments such as mesothermal valleys and yungas, allow us recognizing circuits of large scale interaction. Processes of macro-regional interaction are discussed from this evidence. In this regard, Cueva Inca Viejo could have been an important site in the traffic of information, goods and resources of caravan individuals and / or groups. In particular, the site is highlighted as a place of ritual importance, characterized by different designs of rock art, including llama caravans, and evidence such as bird feathers and cebil seeds from the yungas.