Abran kancha... Una variante de recinto perimetral compuesto en el noroeste Argentino

Abstract

The objective of this work is to share knowledge about a special Incan type of architecture that has been recorded in different areas of northwest Argentina and the south-central Andean region, which departs from the standardized checkerboard kancha style. They are located along state roads and are associated with sites that differ in their functionality, such as tampus, administrative centers or agricultural areas. The bibliographic search allowed us to determine that similar structures - although of smaller dimensions - were constructed in other places of the Tawantinsuyu; Therefore, we suggest that it corresponds to a pre-established architectural pattern which had to fulfill some function or "specific purpose" for the State. In this work, we describe the different structures that have been recorded and discuss and analyze hypotheses about the possible functions based on archaeological data and documentary sources.