Ceramic Manufacturing and Forming Techniques in the Late Period (ca. AD 900 - AD 1200) at Abaucán valley: an approach through Industrial X-ray radiography and Ceramic Petrology (Dept. of Tinogasta, Province of Catamarca, Northwestern Argentine region).

DE LA FUENTE, G. A.

Siena, Italia

Simposio; 37th. International Symposium on Archaeometry, 12-16 May, Siena, Italy; 2008

The archaeological studies concerned with the organization of the ceramic production have emphasized several aspects of this process, taking into account the different stages in the manufacture process of ceramic artefacts. The studies on manufacturing and forming techniques in ceramic production have been important issues in the archaeological research during the past years, and they have involved several different macroscopic and microscopic indicators. In this paper, we present the results of an ongoing archaeological research on the primary and secondary forming techniques involved in the manufacture of several ceramic vessels at Batungasta archaeological site, Valle de Abaucán, Dpto. Tinogasta, Catamarca, Argentina. The ceramic vessels belong to the Late Period (ca. AD 900 - AD 1200) of Northwestern Argentine region.  We have identified at least 8 ceramic groups and for each of them we have applied both macroscopic and microscopic approaches to identify the forming techniques utilized by ancient potters. Into this approach, we have used Industrial X-ray radiography and selective ceramic petrology to explore several factors affecting the manufacturing process of different ceramic vessels. The results obtained with industrial X-ray radiography and ceramic petrology might be considered as complementary to the macroscopic observations and they help to get a broad picture of the primary and secondary forming techniques used by ancient potters. Moreover, the advantages and disadvantages of these two analytical approaches will be evaluated for future studies in this subject.