| This thesis documents for the first time the acllacona or chosen women of the Inca Empire in both historical and archaeological sources, revealing that these women participated in a variety of activities including religious ceremonies such as sacrifices, agriculture, and as wives and concubines of the Inca and other elites in addition to the houses of perpetual virgins who conducted the weaving and brewing of corn beer, chicha, traditionally prescribed to them.;The second part of the thesis examines the role of the Roman Catholic Church, in shaping the characteristics of the acllacona in the Spanish colonial documents. It also reviews modern interpretations which focus upon the economic importance of these women in supplying fine cloth for the Empire. Finally I propose that the practice of spinning and weaving was as important as the finished product of textile manufacturing and that both possessed ritual significance.;Keywords. Inca, weaving, women, aclla, weaving, archaeology, colonial, Spain. |
