Compositional Characterization of Ceramic Artefacts and Clays: the utility of INAA to evaluate the prehispanic integration between the Puna and the Bolsón of Fiambalá area, Northwestern Argentina (Dpto. Tinogasta, Catamarca, Argentina)

RATTO, N., DE LA FUENTE, G., R. PLÁ, M. ORGAZ & M. MORENO

Proceedings of the 33rd International Symposium on Archaeometry. Geoarchaeological and Bioarchaeological Studies

Institue of Geo- and Bioarchaeological Studies

Lugar: Amsterdam; Año: 2005 vol. 3 p. 245 - 249

1571-0750

Based on the regional archaeological record structure (Ratto 2000), the working hypothesis is that the headwaters of the Chaschuil valley (Tinogasta Dept., Catamarca, Argentina) served as a corridor for goods, energy and information circulation, where loci of higher artifactual densities acted as nodes in a network,  interconnecting inka and pre-inka settlements and different spaces, used by agroalfareras (Formative) and state (Inka) societies. The result is the creation of superimposed archaeological landscapes that materialize the social-political and spatial structure of  those societies, that occupied high altitude floors. According with the radiocarbon (C14) and termoluminiscense (TL) dates obtained for archaeological contexts and ceramic artefacts from the region under study -covering a temporal span of 1,000 radiocarbon years-, both agricultural-pottery making and State societies transported vessels to the Chaschuil region (4,000 m.a.s.l.).    Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA) is an analytical technique with the basic characteristics of  sensitivity, precision, accuracy and selectivity required for the discussion of archaeological problems of provenance, commerce, pottery exchange and production, and reconstruction of inter and intra economic relationships among past societies (Bishop & Neff 1989; Neff 1992, 1998; among others). Within the described situation, this work is aimed at obtaining knowledge on ceramic production and distribution context and its social implications, during Formative and Inka occupation of Chaschuil valley headwaters –Puna, 4.000 m.a.s.l.- and Bolsón de Fiambalá –Abaucán valley, 1.500 m.a.s.l.-  at Argentine Northwest (Tinogasta Dept., Catamarca).  To fulfill this objective we analyze ceramic material  coming from Formative and Inka archaeological sites of the Puna (Laguna Salada, El Corral, Las Cuevas, Ojo de Las Lozas and San Francisco, Las Coladas, Tambería) and Valley of Abaucán (Palo Blanco and Batungasta, Costa de Reyes, Ranchillos) –to see Fig.1. Also, these studies are supplemented with the analysis of clay deposits coming from Puna and Abaucán mesothermal valley,  considered as potential raw material provision sources for ceramic manufacture.  This empiric base forms the support for the discussion of regional relationships, specially ceramic production and distribution modes of ceramics between Puna and mesothermal valley.