Drinking in the Andes: organic residue analyses of Inca aríbalo jars from Catamarca, Argentina.

IRENE LANTOS ; VALERIA P. CAREAGA; EVELYN L. BONIFAZI; IVANA K. LEVY; MARTÍN ORGAZ; RICARDO NEME TAUIL; HÉCTOR PANARELLO; SILVIA MORENO; NORMA RATTO; MARTA S. MAIER

Oxford

Simposio; 7th International Symposium on Biomolecular Archaeology (ISBA7); 2016

Universidad de Oxford

Festive events were part of the Inca domination strategy and fermented drinks were salient elements of the liturgy. Hospitality banquets were the setting for negotiations with the annexed populations, who had an active participation in the production of beverages. We studied organic residues from nine ceramic jars (aríbalos) to explore their use as containers for beverages. Samples came from Inca sites in Catamarca, Argentina (San Francisco, Las Coladas, Fuerte Quemado Intihuatana). We recovered lipid, carbohydrate and protein residues from the ceramic matrixes. We also studied native maize, mesquite and llama for comparative purposes. Samples were studied by GC-MS, EA-IRMS, HPLC-ESI and MALDI-TOF-MS.Results from GC-MS indicated mixtures of plant and animal lipids. Plant residues result from storage of fermented drinks. Animal fats were possibly used to seal inner surfaces to hold liquids. Biomarkers for ruminant animals suggest Southamerican camelids as probable sources. Jars show no signs of sooting from cooking. Isotopic analyses indicated some aríbalos with δ13C values similar to aloja, a local beer made from mesquite (C3 plant). Other aríbalos exhibited δ13C values similar to chicha made form maize (C4 plant). Initial results from HPLC-ESI showed that lipids were partially found as intact triacylglycerides, proving exceptional preservation. Acylglyceride characterization is being currently carried out to find biomarkers for native plants and animals. Results from MALDI-TOF-MS of the carbohydrate fraction were consistent with the presence of oligosaccharides of black mesquite in the samples of Las Coladas and Fuerte Quemado. Optimization of peptide extraction is in process for MALDI analyses.Evidence indicates that both chicha and aloja were integrated into the political commensalism sponsored by the Incas.