The impact of the Inca Empire in Northwest Argentina: Assessment of health status and food consumption at Esquina de Huajra (Quebrada de Humahuaca, Argentina)

A balanced diet and stable health were observed among individuals inhabiting the archaeological site Esquina de Huajra during Inca administration, contradicting expectations of deprivation under imperial control. Stable isotope analysis revealed a diverse diet incorporating both plant and animal resources, while skeletal indicators showed no signs of stress or nutritional deficiency. This finding suggests that Inca governance strategies in Northwest Argentina did not uniformly negatively impact local populations' quality of life, despite regional variations in power centralization. The study employed isotopic, dental, and osteological analyses to assess dietary patterns and health outcomes, providing insights into the complexities of Inca-local interactions.

Gheggi, M. S., Williams, V. I., & Cremonte, M. B. (2018). The impact of the Inca Empire in Northwest Argentina: Assessment of health status and food consumption at Esquina de Huajra (Quebrada de Humahuaca, Argentina). International Journal of Osteoarchaeology, 28(3), 274–284. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1002/oa.2652