ABSTRACT
Falda del Cerro is an archaeological site located on the western slope of the Aconquija Mountains (Catamarca, Argentina) [11 MARQUEZ MIRANDA, F., CIGLIANO, E., “Problemas arqueológicos de la zona de Ingenio del Arenal”, Revista del Museo de La Plata (Nueva Serie), v.25, pp. 123-169, 1961.]. Its human occupation is radiocarbonically dated to the first centuries AD [22 SCATTOLIN, M.C., “Santa María antes del año mil. Fechas y materiales para una historia cultural”, In: V. Williams, B. Ventura, A. Callegari y H. Yacobaccio, (eds.) Sociedades precolombinas surandinas: Temporalidad, interacción y dinámica cultural del NOA en el ámbito de los Andes Centro-Sur , pp. 203-219. Instituto de Arqueología - FFyL - UBA, 2007.]. The site presents circular and semi-circular enclosures constructed with stone walls which foundations are dug into the bedrock. Associated pottery belongs to the period’s distinctive styles: Alpatauca, Gris Pulido, Ante Pulido, Condorhuasi, etc.
Surface assemblage and excavated contexts in the area evinced pottery fragments with vitrification evidence on them, mineral remains (probably used as raw material), slag and metal objects [33 SCATTOLIN, M.C., WILLIAMS, V., ―Actividades minero-metalúrgicas prehispánicas en el noroeste argentino. Nuevas evidencias y su significación‖, Bulletin de l’Institute Français d’Études Andines, v.21, n.1, pp. 59-87, 1992.]. Such evidence led us to suppose that activities related to metallurgic production took place in Falda del Cerro.
The present paper is focused on six metal objects found in the site. Our aim is to characterize these objects in order to determine chemical similarities or differences between them. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDAX) analyses were made in order to chemically characterize the sample. The obtained data will allow us to identify the existence of metallic production in the studied area.
This preliminary study initiates the research about chaîne opératoire of metallurgical production on the southern Calchaquí valleys during the first millennium A.D. Future investigations will aim to produce the analysis of mineral remains found in the site and to explore the potential sources of raw material.
Keywords
Copper; metallurgy; pre-Hispanic; Northwestern Argentina
