Chapter 25 – The Biocultural Evolution in the Osmore Valley: Morphological Dental Traits in Pre-Inca Populations

Bioarchaeological studies on population dynamics in the pre-Inca Osmore Valley (Peru) have shown a level of biological affinity between colonies in the valley (Chen Chen) and the people in the Tiwanaku state, suggesting the Tiwanaku expansion brought about the foundation of two colonies and settlements in the Central Osmore Valley (Chen Chen) and perhaps along the coast where, according to some theories, they may have given rise to the Chiribaya. Conversely, archaeological data suggest an absence of cultural contact between the Tiwanaku and the Wari outposts in the Upper Valley. The present study investigates 46 dental nonmetric traits in seven pre-Inca groups to provide a geographically expanded view by comparing sites from the coastal region and the Upper Osmore Valley with groups representing the Wari and Moche cultures. Multivariate statistical analyses indicate that the Tiwanaku colony of Chen Chen shows affinity with the Wari and Moche samples, but not with the later coastal Chiribaya collection. Despite the lack of a true Tiwanaku comparative sample, this evidence suggests a biological interaction between ethnically diverse groups in the region. However caution must be taken with any final interpretation.