Reflection on the history of the study of transhumance, culture change, trails, and roads in the south-central Andes

Research on the Qhapaq Ñan, an Andean road system, reveals that seasonal transhumance and caravan routes have been critical to resource management and cultural development in the south-central Andes since ancient times. These practices, initially tied to herding and agropastoralism, evolved into complex systems linking scattered productive zones, with archaeological evidence suggesting early origins in Peru but later prominence in drier regions like Chile, Bolivia, and Argentina. The study traces the historical examination of these routes, beginning with 19th-century European geographers and anthropologists, and highlights the continued relevance of caravanning—using llamas, equids, or even motor vehicles—along pre-Hispanic paths to optimize resource use today.

Lynch, T. F. (2021). Reflection on the history of the study of transhumance, culture change, trails, and roads in the south-central Andes. Caravans in Socio-Cultural Perspective, 71–84. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003179276-6