Kaitlin Hakanson | Oregon Institute of Technology (original) (raw)
Papers by Kaitlin Hakanson
In the early 1500s, Northern Ecuador was the last frontier of the powerful Inca Empire. After ove... more In the early 1500s, Northern Ecuador was the last frontier of the powerful Inca Empire. After over a decade of conflict with the local population, the Inca finally conquered the area, only to be conquered by the Spanish crown less than a century later. The timing of these events allows for a unique glimpse into pre-Inca political and economic institutions. Based on Spanish accounts, N. Ecuador was divided amongst a number of chiefdoms. We know these groups came together to fight the Inca expansion, but we must consult the archaeological record for a better understanding of the relationships between these groups before the Inca period.
Thesis Chapters by Kaitlin Hakanson
During the Late Pre-Hispanic period, settlements in Northern Highland Ecuador were organized unde... more During the Late Pre-Hispanic period, settlements in Northern Highland Ecuador were organized under a number of chiefdoms. While a basic hierarchical political system is described in the ethnohistoric literature, the nature of the interactions between specific settlements has remained unknown. This study utilizes two methods for describing the degree and scale of interactions between these settlements based on archaeological data.
In the first part of this study, comparisons of site size and complexity were used to describe the variation in chiefly sites at the regional scale. A Geographic Information System (GIS) was also used to model the distributional pattern of significant chiefly archaeological sites in northern Ecuador in order to determine spacing and examine evidence of hierarchy and possible clustering. In the second part of the study, the results of Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA) of ceramic samples from chiefly sites were used to determine whether ceramic vessels moved among communities. The composition groups identified in ceramic assemblages were compared to field-collected clay samples to identify probable clay "sources". The locations of these sources were then compared to locations of significant archaeological sites as a way of tracking the production and movement of ceramics made from local and non-local clay resources.
The results of these analyses demonstrate that the chiefdoms of the Late Period were associated through a regional political system that lacked a nested hierarchy. The trace-element analyses in the northern part of the study area revealed that a limited number of ceramics were moving between larger settlements, while smaller settlements consumed ceramics almost exclusively of local production. These new models of interaction provide valuable information for the study of political organization prior to Inca and Spanish influence. Identification of interaction patterns in chiefdom societies also directly influences our understanding of economic and political systems in the context of chiefdoms.
After the conquest of Cuzco, the Inca capital city in central Perú, agents of the Spanish crown w... more After the conquest of Cuzco, the Inca capital city in central Perú, agents of the Spanish crown were sent throughout the empire to conduct an inventory of their new acquisitions, as well as make observations of the practices of the local populations. These inventories covered a large portion of Perú and the interior portions of Ecuador, but not quite reaching Colombia. Many of these notes are general observations about the state of society at the time, documenting such important details as place-names, general counts of population, locations of particular settlements, and social organization. This information has provided the foundation for archaeological investigations of the region, including interpretations of social and political organization.
Analysis of regional settlement patterns is useful in the interpretation of social and economic a... more Analysis of regional settlement patterns is useful in the interpretation of social and economic activities. Geographic information related to site locations and distribution is assumed to be reliable and can offer generalized information about the nature of social, economic, and political relationships between settlements (Parsons 1972). The extent of social and political territories has also been evaluated using a combination of settlement data and ceramic assemblages to track exchange patterns through time [Parkinson (2006) in Kowaleski ]. Several models in particular have proven useful in the interpretation of settlement distribution and continue to be adapted to explain more detailed geographic information.
Teaching Documents by Kaitlin Hakanson
What is Redlining, and how does it affect where people live?
A collection of supplementary resources for Introduction to Sociology. Includes readings, blog po... more A collection of supplementary resources for Introduction to Sociology. Includes readings, blog posts, infographics, free videos and media clips, animated simulations, and other learning resources. Enjoy! Feedback is greatly appreciated.
In the early 1500s, Northern Ecuador was the last frontier of the powerful Inca Empire. After ove... more In the early 1500s, Northern Ecuador was the last frontier of the powerful Inca Empire. After over a decade of conflict with the local population, the Inca finally conquered the area, only to be conquered by the Spanish crown less than a century later. The timing of these events allows for a unique glimpse into pre-Inca political and economic institutions. Based on Spanish accounts, N. Ecuador was divided amongst a number of chiefdoms. We know these groups came together to fight the Inca expansion, but we must consult the archaeological record for a better understanding of the relationships between these groups before the Inca period.
During the Late Pre-Hispanic period, settlements in Northern Highland Ecuador were organized unde... more During the Late Pre-Hispanic period, settlements in Northern Highland Ecuador were organized under a number of chiefdoms. While a basic hierarchical political system is described in the ethnohistoric literature, the nature of the interactions between specific settlements has remained unknown. This study utilizes two methods for describing the degree and scale of interactions between these settlements based on archaeological data.
In the first part of this study, comparisons of site size and complexity were used to describe the variation in chiefly sites at the regional scale. A Geographic Information System (GIS) was also used to model the distributional pattern of significant chiefly archaeological sites in northern Ecuador in order to determine spacing and examine evidence of hierarchy and possible clustering. In the second part of the study, the results of Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA) of ceramic samples from chiefly sites were used to determine whether ceramic vessels moved among communities. The composition groups identified in ceramic assemblages were compared to field-collected clay samples to identify probable clay "sources". The locations of these sources were then compared to locations of significant archaeological sites as a way of tracking the production and movement of ceramics made from local and non-local clay resources.
The results of these analyses demonstrate that the chiefdoms of the Late Period were associated through a regional political system that lacked a nested hierarchy. The trace-element analyses in the northern part of the study area revealed that a limited number of ceramics were moving between larger settlements, while smaller settlements consumed ceramics almost exclusively of local production. These new models of interaction provide valuable information for the study of political organization prior to Inca and Spanish influence. Identification of interaction patterns in chiefdom societies also directly influences our understanding of economic and political systems in the context of chiefdoms.
After the conquest of Cuzco, the Inca capital city in central Perú, agents of the Spanish crown w... more After the conquest of Cuzco, the Inca capital city in central Perú, agents of the Spanish crown were sent throughout the empire to conduct an inventory of their new acquisitions, as well as make observations of the practices of the local populations. These inventories covered a large portion of Perú and the interior portions of Ecuador, but not quite reaching Colombia. Many of these notes are general observations about the state of society at the time, documenting such important details as place-names, general counts of population, locations of particular settlements, and social organization. This information has provided the foundation for archaeological investigations of the region, including interpretations of social and political organization.
Analysis of regional settlement patterns is useful in the interpretation of social and economic a... more Analysis of regional settlement patterns is useful in the interpretation of social and economic activities. Geographic information related to site locations and distribution is assumed to be reliable and can offer generalized information about the nature of social, economic, and political relationships between settlements (Parsons 1972). The extent of social and political territories has also been evaluated using a combination of settlement data and ceramic assemblages to track exchange patterns through time [Parkinson (2006) in Kowaleski ]. Several models in particular have proven useful in the interpretation of settlement distribution and continue to be adapted to explain more detailed geographic information.
What is Redlining, and how does it affect where people live?
A collection of supplementary resources for Introduction to Sociology. Includes readings, blog po... more A collection of supplementary resources for Introduction to Sociology. Includes readings, blog posts, infographics, free videos and media clips, animated simulations, and other learning resources. Enjoy! Feedback is greatly appreciated.