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Written by Super User. Posted in Papers - English

BEZOAR STONES IN CONTEXT: FIRST STUDY OF THEIR RELEVANCE IN PREHISPANIC COMMUNITIES OF NORTHWESTERN ARGENTINA

PIEDRAS BEZOARES EN CONTEXTO: PRIMER ESTUDIO DE SU RELEVANCIA EN COMUNIDADES PREHISPÁNICAS DEL NOROESTE DE ARGENTINA

Gabriel Miguez, Norma Nasif, María E. Vides, Mario A. Caria and Mónica Gudemos

This article expands our knowledge about bezoar stones by studying the first specimens recorded in archaeological contexts of the Argentine Northwest. These come from an artificial mound at Yánimas 1 site (750-1,200 AD), in Tucumán Province (Argentina), and were studied using an interdisciplinary approach to identify the taxon that produced them, and to explore the activities in which they were used. From the formal and crystallographic (X-ray diffraction) characterization of three bezoar stones and their contextual relationships, it is proposed that they are gastroliths produced by camelids, which would have been used in magic-therapeutic practices and deposited in the mound as offerings. These interpretations were complemented and reinforced by data from various sources (colonial, ethnographic). Additionally, a new absolute age for this site is presented.

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Written by Super User. Posted in Papers - English

QUESTIONS OF ANDEAN PREHISPANIC METALLURGY. NEW PROPOSALS FROM THE QUILLAY FURNANCES (CATAMARCA, ARGENTINA)

INTERROGANTES DE LA METALURGIA PREHISPÁNICA ANDINA. NUEVAS PROPUESTAS DESDE LOS HORNOS DE QUILLAY (CATAMARCA, ARGENTINA)

Josefina Spina, Marco Giovannetti and Edgardo Ferraris.

The archaeological site Quillay (Catamarca, Argentina) is considered as a large scale ore processing/smelting center given the presence of numerous furnaces with metallurgical functions. This paper presents the results of excavations of the combustion structures identified at the site. The new studies allowed knowing the complete morphology of an important set of furnaces, which exhibit features that differ from those accounted for in Andean wayras. In this paper, we give a detailed description of the furnaces, present the preliminary results of the technical analysis of slags, and propose some interpretations which suggest the operation of these structures.

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Written by Super User. Posted in Papers - English

ARCHITECTURE AND SOUNDSCAPE OF AN INKA SETTLEMENT IN NORTHWESTERN ARGENTINA

ARQUITECTURA Y PAISAJE SONORO DE UN ASENTAMIENTO INKA EN EL NOROESTE ARGENTINO

Alejandro Ferrari, Iván Leibowicz, Joaquín Izaguirre and Félix Acuto.

This article presents new data and interpretations on how Inka representatives utilized the architecture of ritualized spaces to manipulate local communities’ somatic experiences. In an attempt to overcome the prevailing ocularcentrism among this line of inquiry, it has been suggested that additional senses should be considered, and some scholars have begun to advance towards the study of ancient soundscapes. This article will focus on the plaza of an Inka settlement located in the North Calchaquí Valley (Salta, Argentina) paying specific attention to how it privileged certain sensorial modalities and managed their sequential stimulus and intensity. It article presents an analysis that combines on-field visual and acoustical permeability data generation, with three-dimensional models of architecture, terrain, and sound propagation. Results indicate that a careful layout design not only spatialized groups and practices, but also created different experiences by promoting disparate visual and acoustic stimulations upon approaching and entering the plaza.

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Written by Super User. Posted in Papers - English

EDITORIAL

A WORLDWIDE NETWORK FOR COMPARATIVE STUDIES ON CARAVANS: PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE

RED MUNDIAL PARA ESTUDIOS COMPARATIVOS SOBRE CARAVANAS: PASADO, PRESENTE Y FUTURO

Persis B. Clarkson, Calogero M. Santoro, Thomas E. Levy, Lautaro Núñez, Axel Nielsen, Steven Rosen, Frank Förster, José M. Capriles, Anatoly M. Khazanov, Michael Frachetti, Daniela Valenzuela, Vivien G. Standen, Barbara Cases, Gonzalo Pimentel, Patrice Lecoq, Ximena Medinacelli, Luis Briones, André Wink, Nicholas Tripcevich, Heiko Riemer, Enelidolfo O’Ryan, Ximena Loayza, Thomas F. Lynch, and Helina Woldekiros.

Caravans are historically specific and can be found in arid lands and mountains of different parts of the world, sharing characteristics such as domesticated animals with specific morphologies and behavioural traits which impose distinctive constraints on human action; patterns of mobility associated with specialized foraging and pastoralist societies; efficient trail routes; reliance upon oases and stations that served as points of trade, exchange and caravan provisioning; representations (“art”); structures and landmarks near and/or related to caravan trails; and the rapid disappearance of these resources through modern development and destruction. Globally, there is great variability as well as similarity in caravan development, use, and structure. Organized caravans seem to have appeared as a result of complex international economies, polities, social and religious networks, and we have good archaeological, historic and ethnographic data brought to light in recent decades that has improved our understanding of the organization and use of ancient caravans worldwide, and their changes through time.

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