Morphological and geochemical analysis of the Laguna Blanca/Zapaleri obsidian source in the Atacama Puna

Advances in the chemical and isotopic characterisation of geological and environmental materials can often be ascribed to technological improvements in analytical hardware. Equally, the creation of novel methods of data acquisition and interpretation, including access to better reference materials, can also be crucial components enabling important breakthroughs. This biennial review highlights key advances in either instrumentation or data acquisition and treatment, which have appeared since January 2010. This review is based on the assessments by scientists prominent in each of the given analytical fields; it is not intended as an exhaustive summary, but rather provides insight from experts of the most significant advances and trends in their given field of expertise. In contrast to earlier reviews, this presentation has been formulated into a unified work, providing a single source covering a broad spectrum of geoanalytical techniques. Additionally, some themes that were not previously emphasised, in particular thermal ionisation mass spectrometry, accelerator‐based methods and vibrational spectroscopy, are also presented in detail.

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“…For the purpose of provenancing, obsidian samples from geological (Seelenfreund et al . ) or archaeological (Gazzola et al . , Poupeau et al .…”

Section: Advances In Accelerator‐based Methods (Contribution By R Bumentioning

confidence: 99%

GGR Biennial Critical Review: Analytical Developments Since 2010

Wiedenbeck

Bugoi

Duke

et al. 2012

Geostandard Geoanalytic Res

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“…; Seelenfreund et al . ). Human foragers initially colonized these highlands in the late Pleistocene ( c .13 000 cal bp ), during a wet climatic pulse that would have favoured ecological productivity (Núñez et al .…”

Section: Obsidian Sources Studies In the Andesmentioning

confidence: 97%

Late Pleistocene Lithic Procurement and Geochemical Characterization of the Cerro Kaskio Obsidian Source in South‐western Bolivia

et al. 2018

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Primary questions regarding the foraging behaviour of the first hunter–gatherers who colonized the New World are how they found, procured and utilized high‐quality raw materials for manufacturing stone tools. In this paper, we present evidence from the late Pleistocene site of Cueva Bautista in the highlands of south‐western Bolivia, which demonstrates that a substantial portion of the recovered stone tool assemblage originated in Cerro Kaskio, a recently discovered obsidian source located 15 km south‐west of the site. In addition to describing the geological and geochronological setting, we provide the first geochemical characterization of the Cerro Kaskio source by means of instrumental neutron activation analysis and energy‐dispersive X‐ray fluorescence. Supported on the technological analysis and archaeometric sourcing of the obsidian lithics found in Cueva Bautista, we discuss the nature of the procurement strategies practised by the earliest mobile hunter–gatherers who explored and colonized the Andean highlands. We conclude that opportunistic lithic resource procurement was probably an important component of the first foraging societies that explored the highland Andes.

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“…Las redes de distribución de la obsidiana son buenos marcadores de circulación interregional de artefactos y materias primas y son útiles para evaluar las distancias involucradas en el tráfi co, ya que sus lugares de origen pueden establecerse con alto grado de certidumbre. Investigaciones recientes (Escola 2004;Yacobaccio et al 2002Yacobaccio et al , 2004Selenfreund et al 2010) documentaron la existencia de más de 10 fuentes diferentes de obsidiana en los Andes Centro Sur, particularmente en el Noroeste Argentino, siendo dos de ellas regionalmente las más importantes debido a la gran distancia geográfi ca que alcanzaron y a la intensidad de su explotación.…”

Section: Obsidianaunclassified

Intercambio y caravanas de llamas en el Sur Andino (3000 - 1000 AP)

Yacobaccio

2012

Come

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ResumenEl propósito de este trabajo es discutir algunos aspectos relacionados con los sistemas de intercambio en el Centro Sur Andino, particularmente la Puna de Atacama, la Quebrada de Humahuaca y sectores adyacentes de las yungas para el período entre los 3000 y 1000 AP. Para ello se plantea que el intercambio solo es posible como consecuencia de una estructura que pueda garantizar su efectividad y continuidad en el plano social y que esto es llevado a cabo por acciones colectivas en situaciones estructuradas. Se revisarán casos de análisis para discutir la naturaleza del tráfi co de bienes que comprenden la distribución de las obsidianas, las cerámicas San Francisco y La Isla. Estos casos serán útiles para discutir los mecanismos, agentes y organización política del intercambio. Por último, a partir de estas cuestiones teóricas y fácticas trataremos de ofrecer una serie de explicaciones plausibles acerca de las características del sistema de intercambio. Palabras claves: Intercambio, Caravanas de llamas, Puna y Quebrada, Formativo. AbstractThe goal of this paper is to discuss some aspects of the exchange systems in the South Central Andes, particularly the Puna de Atacama, the Quebrada de Humahuaca and adjacent areas of the Yungas for the period between 3000 and 1000 BP. Exchange is only possible out of a structure which could warrant it effectiveness and continuity in the social level, and this is accomplished by collective actions in structured situations. Three test cases will be reviewed to discuss the nature of the exchange of goods comprising the distribution of obsidian, San Francisco and La Isla ceramics. These cases will be useful to discuss the mechanisms, agents and political organization of the exchange. Finally, out of the theoretical and factual issues, we will try to offer a number of plausible explanations about the characteristics of the exchange system.

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Morphological and geochemical analysis of the Laguna Blanca/Zapaleri obsidian source in the Atacama Puna

Cited by 17 publications

References 12 publications

GGR Biennial Critical Review: Analytical Developments Since 2010

GGR Biennial Critical Review: Analytical Developments Since 2010

Late Pleistocene Lithic Procurement and Geochemical Characterization of the Cerro Kaskio Obsidian Source in South‐western Bolivia

Intercambio y caravanas de llamas en el Sur Andino (3000 - 1000 AP)

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