DIGITAL MAPPING OFANAGRICULTURAL LANDSCAPE FROM THE LATE PERIOD (1000-600 BP) (ANTOFAGASTA DE LA SIERRA, CATAMARCA, ARGENTINA)

Around 1000 BP, the populations that lived in Antofagasta de la Sierra (South Puna, Catamarca, Argentina) had to face rising environmental aridity together with a demographic increase. As a response to hostile weather conditions, an intensification of agricultural activities began to take place. One of the sites that was built as a result of this process was Bajo del Coypar I, which comprises over 240 ha of archaeological cultivation plots. Studying this site in the field would have resulted in particularly high expenses and complexity. This is the reason why we chose to analyze its structure using high resolution images through the use of a Geographical Information System. Such a methodology allowed us to gather data on the site's structure while generating new information on its compositional elements. This information relates to current debates on the area's socio-political organization during the Late Period (1000-600 BP).