Technology, life histories and circulation of gold objects during the Middle Period (AD 400–1000): A perspective from the Atacama Desert, Chile

Abstract

Studies of archaeological goldwork in the Americas are increasingly revealing a rich variety of context-specific ways in which gold items were produced and valued, but research attention has largely focused on visually striking artefacts. However, in the south-central Andes, goldwork is described essentially as a ‘sheet technology’—a definition that tends to downplay the potential complexity and cultural significance of this technology in such an extensive and varied region. Here, we employ a life-history approach to explore the existence of particular traditions within this large area. We present chemical and microscopic analyses, using pXRF, SEM–EDS, PIXE and digital microscopy, of 142 gold and silver objects from San Pedro de Atacama (northern Chile), recovered in seven cemeteries dated to the Middle Period (AD 400–1000). Our results reveal a heterogeneous assemblage where compositions, techniques, designs and skill levels vary, suggesting that gold artefacts circulated and were imported from different areas of the south-central Andes, such as Tiwanaku, Cochabamba and northwest Argentina. We also identify for the first time two distinct technological traditions used in San Pedro: small-scale goldwork production, and a tradition of modifying and reusing imported objects by cutting, perforating and separating object parts. Considering the depositional contexts, we propose that the funerary ritual at San Pedro was a key factor in the development of this local goldwork. Our research demonstrates that even small and unimpressive artefacts can be successfully interrogated from archaeological perspectives with integrative approaches that go beyond overly generalising perspectives of gold as an exotic status marker.

Yungas y los Valles orientales del norte de Salta y Jujuy dentro de las esferas de interacción del Noroeste argentino prehispánico (ca. 900 d.C.-1300 d.C.)

“…Por otro lado, las representaciones de camélidos ("llamitas") en láminas de oro no son comunes en el NOA, pero la mayoría se registra en la Quebrada de Humahuaca con cinco casos, dos en La Isla de Tilcara, dos en Juella y una llama bicéfala en Pueblo Viejo de la Cueva, decorada con repujados similares a los de la pieza de ME1. Además, se hallaron dos llamitas de oro en Tabladitas en la Puna jujeña, una de ellas decorada con repujados (Ventura, 1984-85;Tarragó et al, 2010;Plaza Colange, 2018).…”

“…El hallazgo de representaciones de llamitas en láminas de oro fuera de las quebradas de Humahuaca y de La Cueva se registró en ME1 (en la Selva), en Tabladitas (en la Puna jujeña) (Ventura, 1984-85;Plaza Colange, 2018),en Larache (San Pedro de Atacama, Chile) (Berenguer, 2000;Plaza Colange, 2018) y en La Paz (Bolivia) (Jedu Sagárnaga, comunicación personal).Sin embargo, las representaciones de llamas en bronce de los cementerios de selva no se han registrado en otros sitios arqueológicos del NOA, al igual que los ornamentos de bronce de diversas formas, entre ellas las Formas B y D, ya mencionados (Ventura, 1984(Ventura, -85, 1985(Ventura, , 1999 (figuras 3 y 7). No obstante, ciertos adornos personales y/o colgantes (como pulseras, anillos y campanitas de bronce) se han hallado en diversos sitios del NOA, Bolivia y Chile.…”

De plantas, animales, minerales y soplos: implementos para tabaco y cebil en Pampa Grande, Salta, Argentina (0-1000 DC)

“…En cuanto al pectoral de oro hallado en la gran urna de Los Aparejos, un reciente trabajo ha revelado un ejemplar muy similar proveniente de spa (Plaza et al 2022). De acuerdo con la autora y su equipo, a diferencia de la manufactura en cobre, los objetos de oro habrían llegado a spa desde el área de Tiwanaku o de la Quebrada de Humahuaca, señalando además que la Cruz de Malta es un elemento común en la iconografía tiahuanacota.…”

Emerging inequality in the San Pedro de Atacama oases (Chile): An investigation of entheseal patterns using ANCOVA and factorial ANOVA

“…There are concurrent increases in grave wealth and disparities in grave goods across cemeteries. For example, gold materials and highly decorated and finely crafted objects including elaborate textiles begin to appear (Berenguer & Dauelsberg, 1989) but are restricted to a few cemeteries (Plaza Calonge et al, 2022; Téllez & Murphy, 2007; Torres‐Rouff et al, 2015). The growth of interregional interaction supported camelid caravans that served to link the Atacameño oases to the coast and the highlands, including the Tiwanaku periphery, a large altiplano polity associated with the presence of foreign goods in the oases (Kolata, 1993; Llagostera, 2004; Oakland, 1992).…”