Ocupación territorial e intercambio en el periodo hispanoindígena: Estudio comparado de dos cementerios: RCh 21 (Catamarca) y SJ Til 43 (Jujuy)

the archaeological findings from two systematically excavated burial areas from nw argentina that show material evidence of native-spanish contact are analyzed and discussed from the theoretical perspective of bioarchaeology and archaeology of death. the variety of items recovered in each cemetery (sj til 43 or "la falda cemetery", tilcara, quebrada de humahuaca, jujuy; and sj cat rch 21 or "rincón chico 21 cemetery", valle de santa maría de yokavil) are described and compared. our comparative results show both similarities and differences that are discussed and interpreted considering their intrinsic value as both direct and indirect indicators of territorial, chronological, and sociocultural import. analysis concludes with a consideration of funerary constituents and their possible meanings within a context of andean traditions that emphasize exchange, and the symbolic, religious, mythological and cosmologic aspects probably involved in the choice of funerary inclusions.