Reinterpreting Jungle Narratives. A Conceptual Archaeology Of "Candelaria" (Northwestern Argentina)

This work raises the need to discussing the conceptual validity of Candelaria, one of the constituent categories of pre-Hispanic archaeology of the yungas of Northwest Argentina. Based on an exhaustive historiographical review this work introduces a critical re-reading that contextualizes, confronts and compares the different narrative constructions developed from archaeology for the eastern forests and foothills of central-northern Tucumdn and central-southern Salta during the last century. By evaluating the historical-conceptual drift from which Candelaria was created, as well as new data and research of the area, this work raises issues regarding its use as an adequate archaeological category.