Metal Use and Production among Coastal Societies of the Atacama Desert*

Figueroa, Valentina; Salazar, Diego; Mille, Benoı̂t; Manríquez, Germán

doi:10.1111/arcm.12119

Cited by 20 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…CaCO 3 , fatty acids, proteins) is capable of producing anthropogenic soils in domestic archeological sites from the Atacama Desert (Muñoz, 2004). Meanwhile, there are considerable records of metallurgic slags, copper artifacts, extraction tools and ore fragments in archeological sites dated after 3125 cal yrs BP (Figueroa et al, 2015;Nuñez et al, 2017). This implies that metalworking has been a significant human activity in northern Chile that began shortly after the Neolithisation.…”

Section: Northern Chilementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Starting at 1500 cal yrs BP, the intensity of metallurgic activities experienced a progressive increase and improvement (Figueroa et al, 2015) (Figure 2c). Metallurgy mainly focused on copper and tin-bronze, yet silver and a rare ternary bronze (Cu-As-Ni) started to be produced by 1300 cal yrs BP (Figueroa et al, 2015;Maldonado et al, 2013). Complex wind-driven "huayras" or smelting "perpendicular" furnaces were adopted since 700 cal yrs BP (Figueroa et al, 2018;Zori, 2018).…”

Section: Northern Chilementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Metallurgy boosted over the last 600 cal yrs BP, spurred by the growing interest in exploiting regional silver, copper and gold reserves as well as other non-metallic ores. The Inca empire improved silver production through lead cupellation, and by incorporating sophisticated furnaces to process Cu and Au alloys (Cantarutti, 2013;Figueroa et al, 2015;Salazar et al, 2013;Zori et al, 2013;Zori and Tropper, 2010). Extraction and refining of highly toxic cinnabar ores (HgS) was apparently carried out in the region under the Inca rule (Arriaza et al, 2018).…”

Section: Northern Chilementioning

confidence: 99%

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Geohistorical records of the Anthropocene in Chile

Gayó

McRostie

Campbell

et al. 2019

Elementa: Science of the Anthropocene

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The deep-time dynamics of coupled socio-ecological systems at different spatial scales is viewed as a key framework to understand trends and mechanisms that have led to the Anthropocene. By integrating archeological and paleoenvironmental records, we test the hypothesis that Chilean societies progressively escalated their capacity to shape national biophysical systems as socio-cultural complexity and pressures on natural resources increased over the last three millennia. We demonstrate that Pre-Columbian societies intentionally transformed Chile’s northern and central regions by continuously adjusting socio-cultural practices and/or incorporating technologies that guaranteed resource access and social wealth. The fact that past human activities led to cumulative impacts on diverse biophysical processes, not only contradicts the notion of pristine pre-Industrial Revolution landscapes, but suggests that the Anthropocene derives from long-term processes that have operated uninterruptedly since Pre-Columbian times. Moreover, our synthesis suggests that most of present-day symptoms that describe the Anthropocene are rooted in pre-Columbian processes that scaled up in intensity over the last 3000 years, accelerating after the Spanish colonization and, more intensely, in recent decades. The most striking trend is the observed coevolution between the intensity of metallurgy and heavy-metal anthropogenic emissions. This entails that the Anthropocene cannot be viewed as a universal imprint of human actions that has arisen as an exclusive consequence of modern industrial societies. In the Chilean case, this phenomenon is intrinsically tied to historically and geographically diverse configurations in society-environment feedback relationships. Taken collectively with other case studies, the patterns revealed here could contribute to the discussion about how the Anthropocene is defined globally, in terms of chronology, stratigraphic markers and attributes. Furthermore, this deep-time narrative can potentially become a science-based instrument to shape better-informed discourses about the socio-environmental history in Chile. More importantly, however, this research provides crucial “baselines” to delineate safe operating spaces for future socio-ecological systems.

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Section: Northern Chilementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Northern Chilementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Northern Chilementioning

confidence: 99%

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Geohistorical records of the Anthropocene in Chile

Gayó

McRostie

Campbell

et al. 2019

Elementa: Science of the Anthropocene

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“…El cabezal cuenta con un vástago central, una o dos barbas laterales ubicadas hacia la sección distal, en ciertas ocasiones una punta lítica en el extremo penetrante y en algunos casos encordados perimetrales de fibras vegetales. El astil principal puede alcanzar los 3 m de longitud gracias a un sistema de ensamblaje de hasta tres partes, unidas entre sí de dos formas, sea mediante el sistema desmontable macho-hembra de pedúnculo-cavidad tal como en los cabezales, o con cortes biselados en zigzag que calzan a la perfección para luego ser firmemente encordados (Ballester y Clarot, 2014;Bird, 1943Bird, , 1946Ewbank, 1855;Figueroa et al, 2015;Focacci, 1974;Focacci y Chacón, 1989;Latcham, 1910;Llagostera, 1989;Mostny, 1964;Núñez, 1999;Spahni, 1967;Uhle, 1917, capacidad de no soltarse y mantener el control sobre el animal por parte del cazador, a diferencia quizás de otros dispositivos.…”

Section: Arpones Del Desierto De Atacama: Universo Materials Y Muestraunclassified

“…Las barbas en la totalidad de los casos estudiados fueron manufacturadas con espinas de cactus previamente seleccionadas, cortadas a la medida y pulidas para dejar el extremo aguzado aunque grueso, a diferencia de su forma original cuyo extremo es delgado y frágil. Tanto en la literatura como en el conjunto que no utilizamos como muestra debido a falta de contexto existen ejemplares en los que se utilizaron barbas aguzadas y pulidas de cobre asimilando la forma de las espinas (Digby, 1934;Figueroa et al, 2015;Mostny, 1964;Salazar et al, 2010).…”

Section: Segundo Ejercicio Tipológico: Arpones De La Costa Del Desierunclassified

Tecnología de arponaje en la costa del desierto de Atacama, norte de Chile

Ballester

2018

Estud. atacam.

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ResumenLa caza marina fue una actividad esencial en el modo de vida de los habitantes del litoral del desierto de Atacama, al norte de Chile. Un pilar de su estructura social que tenía como base material los medios técnicos para realizarla, como las embarcaciones y su sofisticado dispositivo de arponaje, descansando en este último la posibilidad de capturar y arrastrar hacia tierra firme presas que superaban sustancialmente el tamaño y peso del cazador. En la actualidad muy poco se sabe del arponaje desde la arqueología. Por esto ahondaremos en su morfología, composición, cualidades técnicas, diversidad instrumental y cronología a partir de una muestra de 129 cabezales de arpón de distintos períodos de la prehistoria (6500 cal AP a momentos coloniales). Comenzaremos definiendo conceptualmente la función del arpón, seguido de un primer ejercicio tipológico que ordene la multiplicidad de formas y soluciones a nivel mundial para ubicar los ejemplares analizados. En un segundo ejercicio tipológico clasificaremos la diversidad de expresiones locales, diferenciándolas materialmente y situándolas en la secuencia cronológica. Solo después de esta necesaria etapa clasificatoria podremos aproximarnos a su tecnología de arponaje, el rol de los cazadores como sujetos sociales y el papel de la caza en la sociedad litoral. AbstractMarine hunting was an essential activity in the way of life of the Atacama Desert littoral inhabitants, at northern Chile. A pillar in their social structure that was based in the material means to realize it, as boats and their sophisticated harpoon device, resting in the last the possibility of capture and drag mainland preys that substantially outweigh the hunter. Currently the knowledge of harpooning is scarce in archaeology. For this reason we will delve in their morphology, composition, technical qualities, instrumental diversity, and chronology from a 129 harpoon heads sample from different prehistoric periods (6500 cal BP to colony). We will begin conceptually defining the harpoon function, followed by a first typological exercise to order the multiplicity of forms and solutions in a global scale to place the analyzed specimens. In a second typological exercise we will classify the local expression diversity, differentiating them materially and placing them chronologically. Only after this necessary classificatory stage we can approach to their harpoon technology, the hunter role as a social subject, and the position of hunting in the littoral society.

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The Emergence of Early Modern Commodities in the Andes: Camanchacas, Seafood, and Arbitrageurs of Southern Colonial Peru

García-Albarido

2024

Int J Histor Archaeol

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Metal Use and Production among Coastal Societies of the Atacama Desert*

Cited by 20 publications

References 15 publications

Geohistorical records of the Anthropocene in Chile

Geohistorical records of the Anthropocene in Chile

Tecnología de arponaje en la costa del desierto de Atacama, norte de Chile

The Emergence of Early Modern Commodities in the Andes: Camanchacas, Seafood, and Arbitrageurs of Southern Colonial Peru

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