Home Region: Amazonia (South America and Caribbean)

Shuar - Ecuadorian

1831 CE 1931 CE

D G SC WF R

EQ 2020 ec_shuar_2 / EcJivaL

Preceding Entity: Add one more here.

1534 CE 1830 CE Shuar - Colonial (ec_shuar_1) [continuity]

Succeeding Entity:

No Polity found. Add one here.

General Description

The forested foothills of the Andes, near the border between Ecuador and Peru, have long been inhabited by the Shuar, subsistence horticulturalists living in autonomous residential hamlets. There are many Shuar groups, but here we focus specifically on the Ecuadorian group commonly known simply as ’Shuar’. Europeans - specifically, Spaniards - first encountered the Shuar in the 16th century and soon imposed tributes, which the Shuar paid, in increasing amounts, until they rebelled in 1599, driving the Spanish out of the region. Indeed, the Shuar were able to ward off outside interference up until 1930, just as they were able to avoid being subjugated by the Inca. In 1930, Catholic missionaries persuaded the Ecuadorian government to provide a reservation for the Shuar. ^[1]
Population and political organization
Authority among the Shuar was mostly informal and local, and resided in men referred to as unyä (’big’ or ’old’ men) or kakaram (’powerful ones’). These were usually renowned warriors or shamans, but they in fact acquired their reputation by being old enough to have grandchildren, as well as through their friendliness, honesty and generosity in dealing with others. The unyä or kakaram were believed to be able to curse to death anyone who angered them. ^[1]
The scholarly literature does not provide population estimates, even for the more recent period. Indeed, writing in the 1920s, the ethnographer Fritz W. Up de Graff declared that obtaining accurate statistics relating to the Shuar was an ’impossible task’ due to their migratory habits and commitment to concealing their true numbers from potential enemies. ^[2]

[1]: (Beierle 2006) Beierle, John. 2006. “Culture Summary: Jivaro.” eHRAF World Cultures. http://ehrafworldcultures.yale.edu/document?id=sd09-000. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/NDIQCQZP.

[2]: (Up de Graff 1923, 192-93) Up de Graff, Fritz W. 1923. Head Hunters of the Amazon: Seven Years of Exploration and Adventure. London: H. Jenkins. Seshat URL: https://www.zotero.org/groups/1051264/seshat_databank/items/itemKey/XD3S3HVP.

General Variables

Identity and Location

1 Utm Zone

1 Original Name

1 Capital

18 Alternative Name

Temporal Bounds

1 Duration

Political and Cultural Relations

1 Suprapolity Relations

1 Supracultural Entity

1 Succeeding Entity

1 Scale of Supracultural Interaction

1 Relationship to preceding Entity

1 Polity Succession

1 Degree of Centralization

Language

1 Linguistic Family

1 Language

Religion

Social Complexity Variables

Social Scale

1 Population of the Largest Settlement

1 Polity Territory

1 Polity Population

1 Largest Communication Distance

Hierarchical Complexity

1 Settlement Hierarchy

1 Religious Level

1 Military Level

1 Administrative Level

Professions

1 Professional Soldier

1 Professional Priesthood

1 Professional Military Officer

Bureaucracy Characteristics

1 Specialized Government Building

1 Merit Promotion

1 Full Time Bureaucrat

1 Examination System

Law

1 Professional Lawyer

1 Judge

1 Formal Legal Code

1 Court

Specialized Buildings: polity owned

1 Market

1 Irrigation System

1 Food Storage Site

1 Drinking Water Supply System

Transport Infrastructure

1 Road

1 Port

1 Canal

1 Bridge

Special-purpose Sites

1 Mines or Quarry

Information / Writing System

1 Written Record

1 Script

1 Phonetic Alphabetic Writing

1 Nonwritten Record

1 Mnemonic Device

Information / Kinds of Written Documents

1 Scientific Literature

1 Sacred Text

1 Religious Literature

1 Practical Literature

1 Philosophy

1 Lists Tables and Classification

1 History

1 Fiction

1 Calendar

Information / Money

1 Token

1 Precious Metal

1 Paper Currency

1 Indigenous Coin

1 Foreign Coin

1 Article

Information / Postal System

1 Postal Station

1 General Postal Service

1 Courier

1 Fastest Individual Communication

Information / Measurement System

1 Weight Measurement System

1 Volume Measurement System

1 Length Measurement System

1 Area Measurement System

Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)

Fortifications

1 Wooden Palisade

1 Stone Walls Non Mortared

1 Stone Walls Mortared

1 Settlements in a Defensive Position

1 Modern Fortification

1 Moat

1 Fortified Camp

1 Earth Rampart

1 Ditch

1 Complex Fortification

1 Long Wall

Military use of Metals

1 Steel

1 Iron

1 Copper

1 Bronze

Projectiles

1 Tension Siege Engine

1 Sling Siege Engine

1 Sling

1 Self Bow

1 Javelin

1 Handheld Firearm

1 Gunpowder Siege Artillery

1 Crossbow

1 Composite Bow

1 Atlatl

Handheld weapons

1 War Club

1 Sword

1 Spear

1 Polearm

1 Dagger

1 Battle Axe

Animals used in warfare

1 Horse

1 Elephant

1 Donkey

1 Dog

1 Camel

Armor

1 Wood Bark Etc

1 Shield

1 Scaled Armor

1 Plate Armor

1 Limb Protection

1 Leather Cloth

1 Laminar Armor

1 Helmet

1 Chainmail

1 Breastplate

Naval technology

1 Specialized Military Vessel

1 Small Vessels Canoes Etc

1 Merchant Ships Pressed Into Service

Economy Variables (Luxury Goods) Coding in Progress.

Religion Variables Coding in Progress.

Crisis Consequence Cases Coding in Progress.

Power Transitions Coding in Progress.

Instability Events Coding in Progress.

NGA Settlements:

Year Range	Shuar - Ecuadorian (ec_shuar_2) was in:
(1831 CE 1931 CE)	Lowland Andes

Home NGA: Lowland Andes

General Variables

Identity and Location Shuar - Ecuadorian (ec_shuar_2)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Utm Zone	18 M	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Original Name	Shuar - Late	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Capital	None (Absent Capital)	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Alternative Name	Shuar	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Alternative Name	Achuara	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Alternative Name	Aguaruna	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Alternative Name	Huambisa	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Alternative Name	Mayna	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Alternative Name	Chívari	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Alternative Name	Chiwaro	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Alternative Name	Gíbari	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Alternative Name	Givari	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Alternative Name	Gívaro	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Alternative Name	Híbaro	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Alternative Name	Jibaro	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Alternative Name	Jívara	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Alternative Name	Jívira	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Alternative Name	Síwaro	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Alternative Name	Xívari	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Alternative Name	Xivaro	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Alternative Name	Zíbaro	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Temporal Bounds Shuar - Ecuadorian (ec_shuar_2)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)	See More
Duration	[1831 CE ➜ 1931 CE]
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Political and Cultural Relations Shuar - Ecuadorian (ec_shuar_2)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Suprapolity Relations	none	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Supracultural Entity	Amazonia	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Succeeding Entity	Republic of Ecuador	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Scale of Supracultural Interaction	5,500,000 km²	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Relationship to Preceding Entity	continuity	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Preceding Entity 1534 CE 1830 CE	Shuar - Colonial (ec_shuar_1) [continuity]
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Degree of Centralization	quasi-polity	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Language Shuar - Ecuadorian (ec_shuar_2)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Linguistic Family	Chicham	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Language	Shuar	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Religion Shuar - Ecuadorian (ec_shuar_2)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)	See More

Social Complexity Variables

Social Scale Shuar - Ecuadorian (ec_shuar_2)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Population of the Largest Settlement	300 people	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Polity Territory	- Undecided	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Polity Population	- Undecided	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Largest Communication Distance	- Undecided	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Hierarchical Complexity Shuar - Ecuadorian (ec_shuar_2)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Settlement Hierarchy	1	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Religious Level	[1 to 2]	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Military Level	3	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Administrative Level	[1 to 2]	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Professions Shuar - Ecuadorian (ec_shuar_2)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Professional Soldier	Absent	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Professional Priesthood	Absent	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Professional Military Officer	Absent	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Bureaucracy Characteristics Shuar - Ecuadorian (ec_shuar_2)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Specialized Government Building	Absent	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Merit Promotion	Absent	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Full Time Bureaucrat	Absent	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Examination System	Absent	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Law Shuar - Ecuadorian (ec_shuar_2)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Professional Lawyer	Absent	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Judge	Absent	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Formal Legal Code	Absent	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Court	Absent	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Specialized Buildings: polity owned Shuar - Ecuadorian (ec_shuar_2)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Market	Absent	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Irrigation System	Absent	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Food Storage Site	Absent	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Drinking Water Supply System	Absent	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Transport Infrastructure Shuar - Ecuadorian (ec_shuar_2)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Road	Absent	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Port	Absent	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Canal	Absent	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Bridge	Present	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Special-purpose Sites Shuar - Ecuadorian (ec_shuar_2)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Mines or Quarry	Absent	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Information / Writing System Shuar - Ecuadorian (ec_shuar_2)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Written Record	Absent	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Script	Absent	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Phonetic Alphabetic Writing	Absent	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Nonwritten Record	Absent	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Mnemonic Device	Absent	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Information / Kinds of Written Documents Shuar - Ecuadorian (ec_shuar_2)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Scientific Literature	Absent	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Sacred Text	Absent	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Religious Literature	Absent	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Practical Literature	Absent	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Philosophy	Absent	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Lists Tables and Classification	Absent	1831 CE 1931 CE
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History	Absent	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Fiction	Absent	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Calendar	Absent	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Information / Money Shuar - Ecuadorian (ec_shuar_2)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Token	Absent	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Precious Metal	Present	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Paper Currency	Absent	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Indigenous Coin	Absent	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Foreign Coin	Present	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Article	Present	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Information / Postal System Shuar - Ecuadorian (ec_shuar_2)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Postal Station	Absent	1831 CE 1931 CE
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General Postal Service	Absent	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Courier	Absent	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Fastest Individual Communication	- Undecided	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Information / Measurement System Shuar - Ecuadorian (ec_shuar_2)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Weight Measurement System	Uncoded Undecided	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Volume Measurement System	Uncoded Undecided	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Length Measurement System	Uncoded Undecided	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Area Measurement System	Uncoded Undecided	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Warfare Variables (Military Technologies)

Fortifications Shuar - Ecuadorian (ec_shuar_2)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Wooden Palisade	Present	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Stone Walls Non Mortared	Present	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Stone Walls Mortared	Absent	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Settlements in a Defensive Position	Present	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Modern Fortification	Absent	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Moat	Absent	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Fortified Camp	Absent	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Earth Rampart	Absent	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Ditch	Present	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Complex Fortification	Absent	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Long Wall	absent	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Military use of Metals Shuar - Ecuadorian (ec_shuar_2)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Steel	Present	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Iron	Present	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Copper	Absent	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Bronze	Absent	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Projectiles Shuar - Ecuadorian (ec_shuar_2)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Tension Siege Engine	Absent	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Sling Siege Engine	Absent	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Sling	Absent	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Self Bow	Absent	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Javelin	Present	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Handheld Firearm	Present	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Gunpowder Siege Artillery	Absent	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Crossbow	Absent	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Composite Bow	Absent	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Atlatl	Present	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Handheld weapons Shuar - Ecuadorian (ec_shuar_2)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
War Club	Absent	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Sword	Present	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Spear	Present	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Polearm	Absent	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Dagger	Present	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Battle Axe	Present	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Animals used in warfare Shuar - Ecuadorian (ec_shuar_2)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Horse	Absent	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Elephant	Absent	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Donkey	Absent	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Dog	Present	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Camel	Absent	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Armor Shuar - Ecuadorian (ec_shuar_2)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Wood Bark Etc	Present	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Shield	Present	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Scaled Armor	Absent	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Plate Armor	Absent	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Limb Protection	Absent	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Leather Cloth	Unknown Suspected	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Laminar Armor	Absent	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Helmet	Absent	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Chainmail	Absent	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Breastplate	Absent	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Naval technology Shuar - Ecuadorian (ec_shuar_2)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Specialized Military Vessel	Absent	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Small Vessels Canoes Etc	Present	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Merchant Ships Pressed Into Service	Absent	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Economy Variables (Luxury Goods)

Religion Variables

Moralizing Supernatural Punishment and Reward Shuar - Ecuadorian (ec_shuar_2)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)
Moralizing Enforcement is Broad	Absent	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Moralizing Supernatural Concern is Primary	Absent	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Agentic	Absent	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement in This Life	Absent	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Moralizing Supernatural Punishment And Reward	Absent	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Commoners	Absent	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Targeted	Absent	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement in Afterlife	Absent	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Moralizing Religion Adopted by Elites	Absent	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement of Rulers	Absent	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Moralizing Enforcement is Certain	Absent	1831 CE 1931 CE
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Human Sacrifice Shuar - Ecuadorian (ec_shuar_2)

Variable	Coded Value / Certainty Tags	Year(s)	See More