Beyond Inca roads: the Redes Andinas project explores complex palimpsests of Andean road networks

Ancient Andean road networks exhibit remarkable complexity and resilience, extending far beyond the iconic Inca roads system. The Redes Andinas project reveals that these networks evolved dynamically over the past millennium along a vertical transect at 18°S, forming intricate 'palimpsests' of overlapping routes adapted to environmental and socio-political changes. Using a multiscale methodological approach, researchers characterized the transformation patterns, challenging assumptions about the dominance of Inca infrastructure in Andean transportation history.

Saintenoy, T. (2024). Beyond Inca roads: the Redes Andinas project explores complex palimpsests of Andean road networks. Antiquity, 98(400). https://doi.org/10.15184/aqy.2024.84