Trent University Oshawa students, faculty, and staff gathered with the community for the second talk in the 2013 Anthropology Lecture Series. “Trade, Drugs, and Imperial Conquests in Pre-Inka Peru,” was presented by Trent University post-doctoral fellow, Dr. Véronique Bélisle.

“Anthropology brings a long-term and world-wide comparative perspective to understanding human problems and potentials, and we are delighted to bring these benefits to our students, colleagues, and the Oshawa community at large through Trent Oshawa's Anthropology Lecture Series," said Dr. Roger Lohmann, professor of Anthropology at Trent University Oshawa.

Through Dr. Bélisle’s talk, participants learned that centuries before the Inkas, the Peruvian Wari (or Huari) (A.D. 600—1000) ruled across much of the Central Andes.

Students who attended the lecture said they enjoyed learning how Wari imperialism affected the elite and commoners. First-year Anthropology student, Jessica Frendo-Jones said she was glad she had participated. “I didn’t know anything about this and found it very interesting.”

“Dr. Bélisle’s data on the Wari Empire indicates that centres of Wari colonial domination were surrounded by territories that remained under local control. This challenges us to think beyond our image of empires as occupying all the territory they claim,” said Professor Lohmann.

Dr. Bélisle and a team of archeologists have excavated Wari-period and pre-Wari period houses and structures from the village of Ak'awillay. The Wari’s construction of large settlements in different regions of the Andes has lead many scholars to conclude the Wari conquered widely and imposed direct imperial control over local populations. 

“The problem with this interpretation,” says Dr. Bélisle, “is that it is mostly based on research conducted at the large Wari sites (a "top-down" approach); smaller, local settlements have not been investigated to understand how and if local communities were affected by imperial expansion into their region.” 

Dr. Bélisle revealed her “bottom-up” approach focusing on local villages to examine local reactions and responses to Wari presence. “Results show that daily life was little affected by Wari presence, but local elites gained access to new prestige goods.” Dr. Bélisle went on to discuss the use of chicha, a corn-based beer still consumed today, and the ritualistic use of hallucinogenic drugs as ways for the elites to influence the Ak'awillay people. “The elites used and displayed prestige goods in feasts during which they gave large amounts of food and beer to their followers. Feasts were accompanied by the consumption of hallucinogenic drugs and music. Local elites organized these feasts to gain followers and increase their own status; in this sense, Wari might have contributed to increased social inequality in the region.”

Dr. Bélisle, who received a B.S. and M.S. from the Université de Montréal and a Ph.D. from the University of Michigan, is recognized for her research and field work in the Peruvian highland region of Cusco. Consequently, she has received several awards, fellowships and grants, including prestigious Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council fellowships and grants from the National Science Foundation (US) and the Wenner-Gren Foundation for Anthropological Research.

Posted on Friday, April 5, 2013.