Migration scale, process, and impact in the Tiwanaku colonies: Paleomobility at the archaeological site of Omo M10

Approximately one-fourth of individuals interred at the Tiwanaku-affiliated site Omo M10 (Moquegua Valley, Peru) experienced mobility outside their local region during their lifetimes, with one in eight being first-generation migrants. This finding, derived from paleomobility analyses using radiogenic strontium and stable oxygen isotopes, reveals multigenerational interaction between high-altitude Tiwanaku heartland communities and those in the south-central Andes. The study also highlights gendered mobility patterns, suggesting that females and juveniles played significant roles in maintaining cultural continuity and social relationships within provincial Tiwanaku colonies. These insights challenge assumptions about migration dynamics in ancient Andean societies and underscore the importance of intra-individual biogeochemical analyses in reconstructing complex historical processes.

Dahlstedt, A. C., Baitzel, S. I., Goldstein, P. S., & Knudson, K. J. (2024). Migration scale, process, and impact in the Tiwanaku colonies: Paleomobility at the archaeological site of Omo M10. American Journal of Biological Anthropology, 185(4). Portico. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajpa.25016