INSIGHTS INTO A FIRST MILLENNIUM BC (800 – 400CAL BC) SOCIAL NETWORK EXCAVATIONS AT LAS ORQUÍDEAS IN THE NORTHERN ECUADORIAN SIERRA

The period known as the Late Formative (800 – 400 cal BC) represents an interesting moment in Ecuadorian archaeology. In a region that emphasizes the important role played by interregional interaction in its prehispanic societies (Zeidler 2008; Valdez 2008), the area that now constitutes the province of Imbabura and northern portion of Pichincha contains a unique variety of evidence of non-local goods during this period. Archaeological evidence of all of the following exotic materials has been identified: marine shell, exotic animal remains, obsidian, gold, non-local ceramics, greenstone axes, quartz crystals, and cotton (Athens 1990: 54-73; Athens 1995: 14-21; Stahl - Athens 2001:166; Pearsall 2003: 220-221).