Andean-Amazonian link in Ecuadorian prehistory: The Pimanpiro connection

Abstract

This study explores the Andean-Amazonian connections in prehistoric Ecuador, with a focus on the Pimampiro district in the province of Imbabura. Traditionally, interactions between the Andean highlands and the eastern Amazonian lowlands were underestimated, with the latter often portrayed as isolated and peripheral. However, recent archaeological research in Pimampiro reveals significant evidence of complex socio-economic and cultural linkages. Located near a key natural route through the Cordillera Real, Pimampiro was historically a multi-ethnic trade center renowned for coca and cotton cultivation. The study examines ethnohistorical references and archaeological findings, including ceramics and stone sculptures, which indicate substantial connections with both northern Pasto and western Caranqui regions, as well as the eastern lowlands. Noteworthy discoveries, such as terraced agricultural fields and high-relief stone carvings, further illuminate these interactions. This research underscores the pivotal role of Pimampiro in understanding the political and economic dynamics of inter-regional trade networks in pre-Columbian Ecuador.