The semi-arid and arid Andes of South America are characterized by large areas with glacial and periglacial environments. This study focusses on the distribution of glacial and periglacial landforms in the Las Veguitas catchment, Cordillera Frontal, Argentina. A detailed geomorphological map of the Las Veguitas catchment is presented, based on high-resolution elevation data (ALOSPALSAR), satellite imagery (Landsat 8, World View 2, Google Earth), and field studies. First, a general topographical analysis is performed for the entire Las Veguitas catchment, including elevation, slope and aspect characteristics. Second, the altitudinal range of glacial features (glaciers, debris covered glaciers and thermokarst ponds on glaciers) and the altitudinal range and predominant aspect of periglacial features (active, inactive and fossil rock glaciers) are analyzed. Currently, glaciers are restricted to ≥ 4300m, but moraines are identified to elevations of c. 3200m. Active rock glaciers extend down to c. 3450m and have a more southern aspect then both inactive and fossil rock glaciers. Third, a temporal analysis has been performed of glacier and rock glacier flow using a time series of remote sensing images. Glacier flow traced by the displacement of thermokarst lake features (2006-2016) had a mean velocity of 6.66m/yr. The mean velocity of rock glaciers (1963-2017) was much lower at 0.63m/yr. Finally, the thesis discusses limitations and uncertainties in study methods and suggestions for further research activities.

Chosen of the Gods: Identity and Status in the Sacrificial Victims from the Llullaillaco VolcanoMummified children recovered from the summit of Llullaillaco volcano, in the Andes of Argentina, are an outstanding example of archaeological visibility of social actors, whose faces remain almost perfectly preserved half a millenium after their burial. The extraordinary preservation of the bioanthropological evidence from the Llullaillaco volcano has allowed scholars to undertake an archaeological approach towards topics such as social identity and status among the sacrificial victims in the Inca Empire. Interdisciplinary research on the frozen bodies of the young woman and the two infants from Llullaillaco, including Paleoradiological techniques (x-rays and cat-scans), Odontological studies, Paleopathological examination, DNA and hair analysis, has provided scientists with tangible results, that can be cross-checked with the information presented by the historical sources in relation to the sex and gender profile, physical beauty and social and ethnic origin of the children that the Inca priests would select as messengers into the world of the gods. / Los niños momificados recuperados de la cima del volcán Llullaillaco, en los Andes de Argentina, constituyen un ejemplo pocas veces igualado de la visibilidad arqueológica de actores sociales, ya que sus rostros se encuentran casi perfectamente preservados desde el momento de su muerte, hace más de medio milenio. La extraordinaria conservación de la evidencia bioantropológica del Llullaillaco ha permitido abordar temas relativos a la identidad y estatus social de las víctimas sacrificiales en el imperio inca. Los estudios interdisciplinarios en los cuerpos congelados de la doncella y los niños del Llullaillaco —que involucraron técnicas de paleoradiología (radiografías y tomografías computarizadas), estudios de odontología antropológica, exámenes de paleopatología, estudios de ADN antiguo y análisis de cabello— han provisto a los científicos de resultados tangibles para contrastar los requisitos de perfil sexo-etario, belleza física y extracción social que las fuentes históricas refieren en torno a la selección que los sacerdotes incas efectuaban de los mensajeros para el mundo de los dioses.