Altars and Altitude: The ushnu and the puna during the Late Horizon

Ramon Joffre, G.U. (2014)

Part of book or chapter of book

It is common knowledge that in the Andes ecological zones are linked to subsistence activities. Decades ago, working with non-portable sacred monoliths ( Pierre Duviols (1979: 23–6) proposed their variability according to their location, opening a path for material culture studies. Following this approach, here I go a step further, relating ecological zones with pantheons, and finally show that when exploring pre-colonial sacred sites we must incorporate apparently mundane dimensions, which are all too often overlooked.huancas),ushnus, conceived as altars. In general, I aim to1 To start, I will present my methodological considerations and the main lines of discussion surrounding theushnu (also spelled:husno, husnu, osno, osño, ozño, usno, usnu, uzno, vsnu) in relation to the puna

• All authors: Ramon Joffre, G.U.
• Editor(s): Frank, Meddens; Katie, Willis; Colin, McEwan; Nicholas, Branch
• Date: 2014-06-19
• Title of host publication: Inca Sacred Space: Landscape, Site and Symbol in the Andes
• Edition: 1
• Pages: 165 - 176
• ISBN (print): 9781909492059
• DOI: doi:http://www.archetype.co.uk/publication-details.php?id=195
• Link: http://www.archetype.co.uk/publication-details.php?id=195
• Original authors: Ramon
• Original title: Altars and Altitude: The ushnu and the puna during the Late Horizon