Archaeometric approaches to the functionality of combustion structures (CS) from Central Western Argentina

MARÍA JOSÉ OTS Y PABLO CAHIZA

III Latinoamerican Congress of Archaeometry -Ceramics Session

British Archaeological Reports

Lugar: Londres; Año: 2012; p. 1 - 20

In this paper some possibilities offered by archaeometric approaches in identifying the firing temperature reached by the clay walls of archaeological combustion structures (CS) are explored. There were some types of CS identified in several areas of southern San Juan and northern Mendoza provinces (Central western Argentina), but functionality of these structures are not yet established. Methodology applied here, includes micro topographical description of CS walls samples by SEM and microanalysis by EDX coupled to the SEM. Samples were refired to different temperatures from 400° to 1100°C range (by 100°C intervals) previous to its microscopical observation to identify microtextural changes. Internal micro textures of refired samples were compared with the original ones. Also, physical properties related to temperature of samples were analyzed. Although this approach about equivalent firing temperature reached by structures is not conclusive by itself, estimated temperature from 600-800°C range, amongst other archaeological context characteristics, support the hypothesis about the pottery firing function of these CS.  NOTA: El trabajo se encuentra en evaluación (enviado 6 de diciembre de 2012)