We report the results of drone lidar survey at a high-elevation archaeological site in the Chachapoyas region of Peruvian Amazonia. Unlike traditional airborne remote sensing, drone lidar produces very high-density measurements at a wide range of scan angles by operating at low altitudes and slow flight speeds. These measurements can resolve near vertical surfaces and novel dimensions of variability in architectural datasets. We show in a case study at Kuelap that the number of detected structures almost exactly matches the number reported from previous ground level surveys, and we use these data to quantify the relative circularity and size frequency distribution of architectural structures. We demonstrate variability in domestic architecture that was obscured in previous models produced using low-resolution remote sensing. Spatial analysis of these attributes produces new hypotheses about the site's construction history and social organization.
The potential of chemical information obtained by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) based methods is examined for archaeometric studies on polychrome decorations of ceramics. Achieved on polished block sections, the feasibility and benefits are demonstrated as case studies using pre‐Columbian pottery (Wari, Moche, and Cajamarca). Elemental mapping and profiling by X‐ray spectroscopy (EDS) allow separate consideration of the paste in the body, slip, binder and pigments in the polychrome decoration. Compositional profiles across decorative layers substantiate the use of manganese ores for the formation of jacobsite as black pigment. To enlighten trade relations, technological transfer and shared heritage of pre‐Columbian cultures in Peru, the results provide information about local or non‐local pottery production.
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