Camelids as cargo animals by the Paracas culture (800–200 BC) in the Palpa valleys of southern Peru

We elaborate on the available archaeological evidence for caravan transport within the Paracas period (800–200 BC) in the Palpa valleys of southern Peru. Caravans and the transport of commodities imply movement and constant changes of settings. These features of movement and location change make it much more difficult to identify caravan activities through the archaeological record, compared with human practices at fixed places and with more material remains, such as the building of houses. As far as we are aware, remains of a complete caravan have never been excavated and it seems rather unlikely that a caravan in situ will be found, exactly because of these mobility characteristics and its improbability. However, research has shown that there are a number of archaeological indicators suggesting that the transport and exchange of goods in the past was organized with the help of caravans. Among those indicators for this case study are caravan sites and landscapes, intensive camelid husbandry, long-distance exchange of several commodities, and highland origins of domesticated camelids.