biostudies-literatureUnknown18(2)Correa-Lau JStandardized Inka tunics, or unku, were created under the auspices of the state as symbolic expressions of its expansionist power. To ensure these textiles acquired the status of effective insignias of power and territorial control, the Inka established and imposed technical and stylistic canons for their production (techne) by means of highly-skilled state weavers. In the provinces, social groups that came under imperial rule, local expert weaving agents adopted the conventions of the state and included meaningful symbolic elements of the idiosyncrasies, traditions, and experiential knowledge of the local community (metis). We therefore propose that this was not a unidirectional process and that the Caleta Vitor Inka unku (hereon referred to as the CV unku), presented here, reflects a synPloS onee0280511https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC9907846biostudies-literatureInka Unku: Imperial or provincial? State-local relations.PMC9907846Santoro CMEchenique ECorrea-Lau JMartens TSplitstoser JAguero CfalseInka Unku: Imperial or provincial? State-local relations.Standardized Inka tunics, or unku, were created under the auspices of the state as symbolic expressions of its expansionist power. To ensure these textiles acquired the status of effective insignias of power and territorial control, the Inka established and imposed technical and stylistic canons for their production (techne) by means of highly-skilled state weavers. In the provinces, social groups that came under imperial rule, local expert weaving agents adopted the conventions of the state and included meaningful symbolic elements of the idiosyncrasies, traditions, and experiential knowledge of the local community (metis). We therefore propose that this was not a unidirectional process and that the Caleta Vitor Inka unku (hereon referred to as the CV unku), presented here, reflects a syn2023-01-01T00:00:00Z20232025-04-04T23:52:52.012Z2025-04-04T23:52:52.012ZS-EPMC99078463675350410.1371/journal.pone.0280511