Abstract

This article analyzes the case of the Pokotia Engraved Monolith, frequently invoked in contemporary hyper-diffusionist narratives that attribute to it inscriptions of supposed ancient Near Eastern origin. Against these interpretations, this study proposes an archaeological analysis based on morpho-stylistic observations of the sculpture, with the aim of reconstructing its biographical sequence. The analysis shows that the monolith clearly belongs to the corpus of Pucara statuary from the Altiplano, both in terms of its iconographic characteristics and its technical and formal conventions. In contrast, the two additional panels of incisions are incompatible with this chrono-cultural framework. These additions have subsequently been reinterpreted within pseudoscientific narratives derived from diffusionist traditions rooted in colonial and Orientalist frameworks. The article thus demonstrates how an authentic archaeological object can be reconfigured, both materially and conceptually.

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