Complicating an early state: a social network analysis of agents in Wari art (<i>c.</i> AD 700–850)

Processual models of the early state envisioned hierarchical societies with stable social and political structures. More recent research, however, has questioned this vision. Here, authors explore Middle Horizon (AD 700–1000) Wari iconography to provide an example organisation from Central Andes. Social network analysis (SNA) human figures (‘agents’) depicted in art identifies links between individual agents, as visualised on objects objects’ findspots. The results suggest that was more heterarchical than previously imagined. Similar applications SNA could be used iconographic evidence other early, pre-literate states around world.