Middle Horizon Imperialism and the Prehistoric Dispersal of Andean Languages

Research suggests that the Wari Empire, not Tiwanaku, was likely responsible for the prehistoric dispersal of Quechua languages during the Middle Horizon (cal. ad 650–1050). While both empires shared religious iconography, archaeological evidence indicates cultural and administrative unity in Wari, particularly in its core territory in southern Peru, which aligns with the modern distribution of Southern Quechua. Tiwanaku, by contrast, exhibits greater ethnic and linguistic diversity, especially in Moquegua. The study proposes that if a language dispersal occurred, it would reflect Wari's centralized control, whereas its influence appears less direct or absent in regions like Moche and Aguada, warranting further investigation.

ISBELL, W. H. (2012). Middle Horizon Imperialism and the Prehistoric Dispersal of Andean Languages. Archaeology and Language in the Andes. https://doi.org/10.5871/bacad/9780197265031.003.0009