Cusco: Urbanism and Archaeology in the Inka World

“An outstanding study of the Incaic Cusco urban system that nicely integrates ethnohistorical and archaeological information using analytical concepts derived from urban planning.”—Jeff Parsons, University of Michigan

“Incorporating the most recent research into the Inka capital of Cusco and surrounding areas, Ian Farrington’s work is the most complete text on the political and economic structure of this ancient Andean city. He covers various aspects of Cusco’s urban life clearly and thoroughly, elucidating the complexities of the historical narrative and the archaeological evidence for social organization, religious activity, and daily practices.”—Tom D. Dillehay, Vanderbilt University

The Inka capital of Cusco is the oldest existing city in the Americas. Known as the “navel of the world” during the Inka Empire, it was a fascinating and complex urban landscape that grew and evolved over 3,000 years of continuous human habitation. Ian Farrington has spent decades investigating Cusco and its surroundings, gathering an impressive mass of ethnohistorical and archaeological data.

In this volume, Farrington explores building plans, architectural forms, and urban planning techniques utilized at Cusco. He examines how each element impacted the development of various sectors of the ancient city and demonstrates how the Inka organized urban space within the contexts of their cultural norms and practices. These findings include analysis of major ceremonies and their association with Inka urban architecture.

This valuable study conceptualizes Cusco as a system including the urban core, the heartland, and the imperial provinces from northwest Argentina to southern Colombia. Its unique approach and expansive findings reveal the sophisticated nature of Inka planning.