Representations and Spatial Uses of the Prehistoric Past in Cañar and Sígsig, Ecuador

The towns of Cañar and Sígsig, located in the Ecuadorian Andes, serve as cultural and archaeological settings where the Kañari and Inka cultures thrived in Ecuador’s prehistoric past. This phenomenon has given rise to multiple perspectives and representations of the past that inhabitants continue to construct in relation to their history and identity. These constructions are rooted in the continuous interaction between people and their environment. The incorporation of the past through spatial representations and uses allows for an understanding of the reinterpretation of material culture and historical-archaeological discourse. Therefore, this paper aims to identify the representations and images that emerge in Cañar and Sígsig, both in urban and rural settings, using methodological tools such as social mapping and direct observation. From this, it becomes evident that the inhabitants shaped their spaces and landscapes based on a symbiotic relationship between culture and nature.