Crucibles and moulds in Los Nogales: Technological study of metallurgical ceramics of the Tardío Period in the Aconcagua Valley, Central Chile ; Crisoles y moldes en Los Nogales: Estudio tecnológico de cerámicas metalúrgicas del Período Tardío en el valle del Aconcagua, Chile Central

Abstract

Summary: The expansion of Tawantinsuyu in the Aconcagua valley (central Chile) was culturally mediated and avoided military coercion, resulting in different forms of acceptance, resistance and aculcisation. In this context, there are almost no studies discussing how this process manifested itself in the metallurgical technology of the Tardío Period (ca. 1400-1530 DC). We present the results of the technological study on a set of crucibles and moulds found in the Aconcagua valley and associated with metallic parts made from copper, using optical microscopy, petrography, SEM-EDS, XRD and FTIR. Our results indicate that the raw materials used were igneous rocks obtained from probably local deposits, mixed with small quantities of smectitas-montmorillonite-clays. In the case of moulds, they also contained ground bone as anti-plastic. All ceramics were covered with a pure bone paste to improve their refractarisation. Cooking temperatures were estimated at between 800 and 850 °C for moulds and above 900 °C for crucibles. The morphology and technology used suggest that a technological tradition originating in the Argentinian north-west was introduced into the Aconcagua valley and accepted by certain local communities during the expansion of Tawantinsuyu. ; Resumen: La expansión del Tawantinsuyu en el valle del Aconcagua (Chile central) fue culturalmente mediada y evitando la coerción militar, lo que derivó en distintas formas de aceptación, resistencia y aculturación. En este contexto, son casi inexistentes los estudios que discutan cómo este proceso se manifestó en la tecnología metalúrgica del Período Tardío (ca. 1400-1530 DC). Presentamos los resultados del estudio tecnológico sobre un conjunto de crisoles y moldes encontrados en el valle del Aconcagua y asociados a piezas metálicas hechas en base a cobre, utilizando microscopía óptica, petrografía, SEM-EDS, XRD y FTIR. Nuestros resultados indican que las materias primas utilizadas fueron rocas ígneas obtenidas de depósitos probablemente locales, mezcladas con ...