Comparative study of archaeological road networks

The Andes are characterized by being the cradle of one of the largest empires in the world. The Inca empire expanded throughout Peru, Chile, Argentina, Bolivia, Ecuador, and Colombia. The control of such a vast territory was through a road network more than 60,000 km long. Part of it is still preserved; even, many of the Inca routes generated interaction nodes that until today are important centers in the territory.

This project comparatively analyzes ancient and contemporary road systems to understand the strategies and challenges in land use planning in Peru during the last 500 years. The continuities and transformations in the national road system from pre-Hispanic times to the present are studied from an index of overlap between the Inca Road Network and the current road network. The historical nature of the analysis allows us to contrast past and recent solutions to the management of such a diverse territory.

Responsible:

Giancarlo Marcone

Contact:

gmarcone@utec.edu.pe

Members:

Andrea Gonzáles / Gisella Huerta