Hematite mining in the ancient Americas: Mina Primavera, A 2,000 year old Peruvian mine

Vaughn, Kevin J.; Grados, Moises Linares; Eerkens, Jelmer W.; Edwards, Matthew J.

doi:10.1007/s11837-007-0145-x

Cited by 40 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 20 publications

(19 reference statements)

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“…Sugerimos previamente que la minería llevada a cabo en Mina Primavera durante los tiempos Nasca podría seguir siendo explotada parcial e informal, tal vez por mineros itinerantes (Eerkens et al 2009;Vaughn et al 2007). Todavía creemos que la explotación entera de la mina durante unos siglos no habría sido requerida a tiempo completo; sin embargo, fechados adicionales de Mina Primavera son necesarios para evaluar completo el carácter de la minería en el sitio.…”

Section: Discussionunclassified

“…Se han excavado 40 m 2 en Mina Primavera a lo largo de tres temporadas en 2004, 2005(Vaughn et al 2007) y 2010. Estas excavaciones han revelado que la mina fue explotada por más de un milenio.…”

Section: Mina Primaveraunclassified

“…Nosotros hemos tratado de encontrar fuentes minerales para la producción de cerámica y hemos hallado unas minas en la región Nasca (Eerkens et al 2009), incluyendo Mina Primavera, una mina prehispánica de hematita (Vaughn et al 2007). En este artículo presentamos evidencias de actividad minera en Mina Primavera.…”

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“…La hematita se utilizó también como pigmento para textiles, objetos de madera, cosméticos y murales (Bonavia 1959(Bonavia , 1985Phipps 1989;Yacovleff y Muelle 1934), y como pigmento para el cuerpo (Llagostera et al 2000; Scalise y Di Prado 2006; Silva y Bahamondes 1969). A pesar de su importancia como elemento necesario en ofrendas y como pigmento, la explotación de este recurso no había sido entendida sino hasta hace poco (Salazar et al 2011;Vaughn et al 2007). Barba (1923:76) en su trabajo clásico de metalurgia en los Andes desestimó por completo la minería de hematita como actividad importante.…”

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Minería De Hematita en La Costa Sur Del Perú: Investigaciones Arqueológicas en Mina Primavera

Vaughn

Gijseghem

Grados³

et al. 2013

Chungará (Arica)

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A pesar que la minería es una actividad crítica para obtener materiales primas, se reconoce poco sobre la minería en los Andes prehispánicos. En este artículo presentamos evidencia de actividad minera antigua desde Mina Primavera, una mina antigua bien preservada de Nasca, costa sur de Perú, con fechas de explotación principalmente entre el periodo Intermedio Temprano (1-750 d.C.) y el Horizonte Medio (750-1.000 d.C.). Nuestras excavaciones proveen evidencia de extracción y proceso de hematita -usada en ofrendas y como pigmentos-, pero también evidencia de rituales que occurieron en la mina. Discutimos las excavaciones y nuestras interpretaciones de los artefactos y hallazgos que se han encontrado.Palabras claves: minería, Nasca, Wari, hematita. Despite the fact that mining is a critical activity to obtain raw materials, very little is known about mining in the prehispanic

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Section: Discussionunclassified

Section: Mina Primaveraunclassified

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Minería De Hematita en La Costa Sur Del Perú: Investigaciones Arqueológicas en Mina Primavera

Vaughn

Gijseghem

Grados³

et al. 2013

Chungará (Arica)

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“…The general scarcity of reliably datable features and material remains at mines, both artifactual and organic, as well as disturbances by Colonial and/or recent exploitation necessitate reliance on negative and broader contextual evidence. The discoveries such as the well-preserved pre-Hispanic tools with the famous "Copper Man" of Chuquicamata on the north coast of Chile (Bird 1979;Fuller 2004;Mead 1921) and diagnostic ceramics and radiocarbon-datable materials at the La Primavera hematite mine in backpart of the Ingenio Valley between Palpa and Nasca valleys on the south coast of Peru (Vaughn et al 2007) represent rare, fortuitous occurrences. Other relative dating means besides diagnostic artifacts and architecture are discussed below.…”

Section: Dating Pre-hispanic Minesmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Style, Technology and Organization of Sicán Mining and Metallurgy, Northern Peru: Insights From Holistic Study

Shimada

Craig²

2013

Chungará (Arica)

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This paper explains what Shimada has termed a holistic approach to craft production and illustrates its value by discussing insights gained into the style, technology, and organization of Middle and Late Sicán (ca. AD 900-1,375) mining and copper-arsenic metallurgy. After a brief characterization of the geographical and cultural settings of pertinent research by the Sicán Archaeological Project (1978-present) and the holistic approach, we discuss specific methods and strategies for locating and dating pre-Hispanic mines. Based on our examination of eight mines in the study area that supplied copper oxides and/or arsenic-bearing ores, we offer a general characterization of Sicán mining, emphasizing the integral character of local mining and autochthonous copper-arsenic alloy (also called arsenical bronze) production at nearby smelting sites (six excavated to date). Our analyses of primary context samples of ore and smelting products and by-products recovered at smelting sites show that copper-arsenic was deliberately and locally smelted and that arsenic was derived from scorodite (oxide form of arsenopyrite) and/or weathered sulfide ores available near the surface of local mines. Additionally, we discuss insights gained into careful and sustainable charcoal fuel management and the "modular organization" of metallurgical and other productive activities.Key words: Sicán, holistic approach, copper-arsenic, Andean archaeometallurgy. (1978-presente) Over 100 years of scientific investigation into indigenous New World metallurgy that began in the late 19 th century (e.g., Bergsøe 1937Bergsøe , 1938Boman 1908;Cushing 1894;Mathewson 1915;Mead 1915;Nordenskiöld 1921) have revealed that Peru and neighboring countries distinguished themselves in terms of technological developments as well as by the quantity, diversity and cultural significance of metal products. In fact, as early as 1921, Erland Nordenskiöld (1921 recognized the cultural importance and distinct character of north coast metallurgy. Over the next decades, technical and artistic studies documented the remarkable sophistication, innovative character and versatility of what was essentially a copper and copper-alloy based metallurgy (e.g Este documento explica lo que Shimada ha denominado enfoque holístico del estudio de la producción artesanal antigua y ejemplifica su valor discutiendo perspicacias adquiridas acerca del estilo, tecnología y organización de la minería y metalurgia Sicán Medio y Tardío (ca. 900-1.375 d.C.). Luego de una caracterización de los marcos geográfico y cultural del Proyecto Arqueológico Sicán

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Archaeometric case studies on decorations of pre‐Columbian pottery using X‐ray spectroscopy maps and profiles

Dietrich

Mehner

Del-Solar-Velarde

et al. 2017

Materialwissenschaft Werkst

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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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Hematite mining in the ancient Americas: Mina Primavera, A 2,000 year old Peruvian mine

Cited by 40 publications

References 20 publications

Minería De Hematita en La Costa Sur Del Perú: Investigaciones Arqueológicas en Mina Primavera

Minería De Hematita en La Costa Sur Del Perú: Investigaciones Arqueológicas en Mina Primavera

The Style, Technology and Organization of Sicán Mining and Metallurgy, Northern Peru: Insights From Holistic Study

Archaeometric case studies on decorations of pre‐Columbian pottery using X‐ray spectroscopy maps and profiles

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