Deciphering the origin of small metal artefacts from Castillo de Huarmey (Peru) with Pb, Cu, and Ag isotopes

Abstract

This paper presents Ag, Cu, and Pb isotopes for five silver and 10 copper artefacts found in the first intact pre‐Columbian tomb of the Wari culture female elite at Castillo de Huarmey, Peru. Ag and Cu isotope data indicate that the metals were extracted from primary, hypogene ore deposits. Most of the Pb isotope data for the Castillo de Huarmey artefacts correlate with the core Wari site of Conchopata, suggesting utilization of ores from similar deposits. The observed spread in Pb isotopes can be explained by the utilization of regional ores with highly variable Pb isotopes, such as the Julcani deposit. Alternatively, the linear nature of the Pb isotope results obtained for these samples may also be a result of the mixing of ores from different deposits or the re‐smelting of metals. Some of the Pb isotope results also indicate imports from other remote regions, providing evidence for long‐distance interactions on a vast regional scale, in the northern (North Coast of Peru) and southern (Southern Peru and Potosi region in Bolivia) spheres of influence of the Wari Empire and the Tiwanaku state.

Sources of early Islamic silver: lead isotope analysis of dirhams

“…2012) and the pre-Columbian Americas (Kałaska et al . 2022). Lead isotope analysis therefore has tremendous potential in the study of diverse regions and societies to advance understanding of mining locations, silver trade and wider economic structures.…”

“…Recycling and refining are culturally specific practices. The extent to which this pattern is reflected more widely in other past societies has yet to be fully established, but initial studies indicate the use of native silver and silver-rich minerals in contexts such as Bronze Age Europe (Murillo-Barroso et al 2012) and the pre-Columbian Americas (Kałaska et al 2022). Lead isotope analysis therefore has tremendous potential in the study of diverse regions and societies to advance understanding of mining locations, silver trade and wider economic structures.…”

Tracing Andean Origins: A Machine Learning Framework for Lead Isotopes

“…Even more so, considering the demonstrated competence of Andean cultures in copper ore smelting techniques before the arrival of the Spanish (Caley & Easby, 1959). This final selection ends up being similar to the one reached by Kałaska et al (2022). In any case, it is recommended to perform copper isotope analysis at Corocoro to compare with those obtained from the MK 33 sample.…”

“…For this exercise, it was used recent data reported from silver and copper artifacts found in one intact pre-Columbian tomb of the Wari culture at Castillo de Huarmey in Peru (Kałaska et al, 2022). The authors explored the provenance of 15 objects, from which the copper sample MK 33 was randomly selected (see Table 5).…”

Simplifying silver isotope analysis of metallic samples: using silver nitrate precipitation to avoid perilous chloride formation

“…Silver (Ag; Z = 47) isotope geochemistry has undergone a renaissance in popularity in recent years due to the widespread availability of multi-collector induction coupled plasma mass spectrometers (MC-ICP-MS) and its potential applications in geoscience, [1][2][3][4][5][6][7] archaeology, [8][9][10][11][12][13] and environmental science. 14,15 Prior to the advent of MC-ICP-MS technology, Ag isotope measurements were carried out using a thermal ionisation mass spectrometer (TIMS) with a precision of only ca.…”