Inca Landscapes of Domination

In many provinces of the Tahuantinsuyu, the understanding of Inca domination has been focused on the political strategies implemented by the state. However, the political landscape developed during this time required an engagement with dynamic local communities. By studying the visual and spatial distribution of rock art in North-Central Chile, we discuss how traditional community practices were transformed during the Inca era. We propose that in the Late Intermediate Period rock art was key in the production of a corporate community, whereas in the Inca period it promoted the construction of hierarchy and social differences within the communities. This change was promoted by the local leaders, who took advantage of ancestral places and traditional community practices. Simultaneously, the Inca political strategy made concerted efforts to invisibilize such places and practices.