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Journal ArticleDOI

Archaeometallurgy in the Paraná Delta (Argentina): Composition, manufacture, and indigenous routes

TL;DR: The results of macroscopic, microscopic, and metallographic studies of archaeological metal objects from the Delta of the Parana River (Argentina, South America) are presented in this paper.
About: This article is published in Journal of Anthropological Archaeology.The article was published on 2017-09-01 and is currently open access. It has received 9 citations till now. The article focuses on the topics: Archaeometallurgy.

Summary (3 min read)

1. Introduction

  • Metal objects have been one of the most valued goods for human societies all over the world since the emergence of metallurgy.
  • In most parts of the South American lowlands, indigenous people did not make metal objects, but they obtained them through exchange with Andean populations (Steward, 1944–49).
  • This is the main idea that this paper seeks to asses.
  • The results of macroscopic, microscopic, and metallographic studies of 11 archaeological metal pieces from the Delta of the Lower Paraná River are presented.
  • The objectives of these studies were to determine the chemical composition of the objects and the existence of any sort of alloy, as well as to obtain information about the metallurgical manufacturing techniques.

2. Materials and methods

  • The studied metal objects are part of the Luis María Torres Collection (División Arqueología of the Museo de La Plata, Universidad Nacional de La Plata).
  • He presents the results of his fieldwork on these three earth mounds where, besides the pieces analysed here, he also recovered abundant smoothed and incised pottery, bone tools, lithic artefacts, endocarps of palm fruits, and faunal remains of fish, deer, felines, and freshwater molluscs, along with numerous human skeletons (for a review of Torres Collection see Bonomo et al., 2009).
  • 578) published wet-chemical analysis of four pieces1 from TIIPG, performed by Herrero Ducloux, the first doctor in chemistry in Argentina, who identified a marked predominance of copper (Cu), also known as Torres (1911.
  • In the present study the following analyses were performed: (1) Macroscopic analysis:.
  • In order to evaluate microstructurally the morphological characteristics and the manufacturing methods, all of the 11 pieces and the metallographic replicas made from three of them (one from each archaeological site) were observed with SEM at different magnifications.

3.1. Macroscopic analyses

  • The metallic pieces are part of ornaments, possibly pendants and beads, and they all have holes to be suspended (Table 1).
  • They have semi-lunar, trapezoidal, rectangular, and quadrangular shapes with rounded corners.
  • In four of the pieces (TIIPG N 4, TIBG N 6, N 7 and N 11), it can be observed that the suspension hole was made through mechanical action with a pointed element perforating from one of the piece surfaces and leaving an irregular burr of metal material around the hole on the opposing surface.

3.2. Chemical composition and corrosion

  • The metal used for manufacturing all the pieces is mainly pure Cu, as indicated by EDS analyses (Fig. 2a and b).
  • The composition of the semi-lunar pendant is an exception in the entire object assemblage (Fig. 2c).
  • The intentional incorporation of Sn improves the mechanical properties and decreases the copper’s reddish colour, making the pieces look more golden (González, 2002; Palacios, 2011).
  • Precisely, in metal pieces from funerary contexts, such as the ones studied here, the corrosive processes are intensified due to the combination of environmental conditions and alterations generated by the organic substances during the decomposition of the bodies (Pifferetti, 2001:787).
  • On their external surfaces, a patina has been formed by quite stable Cu carbonates that naturally protect the metal.

3.3. Metallographic and scanning electron microscope analyses

  • The two suspension holes on one of the ends of this semi-lunar pendant (TIPG N 1) were studied: a complete hole (0.3 0.5 cm) and an incomplete hole (Fig. 1a).
  • Even though the edge of the complete suspension hole (Fig. 3a) is very irregular due to corrosion, it does not present any evidence of mechanical work by pounding and it preserves the signs of the primary manufacture process, that is, the casting.
  • The metallographies indicate that the initial manufacture stage involved alloy melting in the form of a small ingot or a bigger chunk of pure Cu. Precisely, the micro-shrinkage cavities observed in Fig. 6a are defects generated during ingot melting.
  • This type of mechanical deformation that increases the sheet hardness can be discerned by the oxides orientations (Fig. 6b), which follow the hammering direction.
  • In Fig. 6c and d the matrix with annealing twins was observed over a previous inter-dendritic phase, which is characteristic of molten material prior to this hot forming.

4. Discussion

  • The metal objects found in the Paraná Delta are the final product of specialized technology.
  • Since the beginning of the European conquest in the sixteenth century, several references to the Paraná River and neighbouring areas have been made about individuals from different indigenous populations having metal objects: Chaná-timbú, Guaraní, Quer- andíes, and different indigenous Chaco groups (Fig. 7).
  • The Chanátimbú (including Timbú and Carcaraes people) were canoe groups that lived mainly in the alluvial plain and islands of the Middle and Lower Paraná River, systematically exploited the fluvial resources, and cultivated maize, squash and beans.
  • In order to answer this, it is necessary to assess what the archaeological and ethnohistorical evidence shows about metals in neighbouring areas of the Paraná River.

5. Conclusions

  • The obtained results allow us to reach the following conclusions: 1. The metal objects recovered in the Paraná Delta were mainly manufactured in pure Cu and, in one case, with a bronze alloy.
  • The analysed objects could have been made by melting small ingots, prills or pieces of scrap metal, and then casting in open moulds.
  • Regarding the production sequence in the Delta collections, the authors have only finished ornaments, although unfinished sheets may have reached the area.
  • Hypothetically, metals may have come through three indigenous routes: two of them, the Carcarañá River across the Mountain Ranges of Cordoba and the Salado-Dulce Rivers through the plains of Santiago del Estero, used by Chaná-timbú groups; and a third one, the Paraná-Paraguay River route through Chaco, followed by Guaraní populations.
  • Imported objects could have generated differences within the groups, giving greater status to local individuals that possessed them and symbolizing their special privileges.

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10 Jun 2015
TL;DR: In this article, the authors report on some characteristics of these bioarchaeological collections through the analysis of the 252 individuals that comprise them, and then proceed to the sex determination and age estimation of the sample, and to the record of taphonomic variables; the latter with the purpose of identifying the possible burial context where these individuals came from.
Abstract: Durante fines del siglo XIX y principios del siglo XX tuvieron lugar varias exploraciones y excavaciones en sitios arqueologicos del humedal del Parana inferior, originando en consecuencia un gran acervo de materiales bioarqueologicos, entre otros, depositados hoy en dia en el Museo de la Plata de la Universidad Nacional de La Plata y en el Museo Etnografico de la Universidad de Buenos Aires. Si bien algunos de los resultados derivados de aquellos trabajos de campo fueron publicados, otros permanecen ineditos. El objetivo de este trabajo es dar a conocer algunas caracteristicas de dichas colecciones bioarqueologicas a traves del analisis de 252 individuos que las conforman. En este sentido, procedimos a la determinacion sexual y estimacion etaria de la muestra y al registro de variables tafonomicas, este ultimo con el fin de poder identificar el posible contexto de inhumacion de donde provienen dichos individuos. A partir de este analisis y siguiendo los datos publicados se discriminaron entre inhumaciones en contacto directo con la tierra o en urnas. A su vez, se dio cuenta de una segmentacion espacial en base a categorias de sexo y edad para algunos sitios, como asi tambien de la presencia de adornos personales de metal, ocre y marcas de corte en algunos huesos. De esta manera, esperamos resaltar el valor que tienen las colecciones de museos como asi tambien contribuir y ampliar nuestro conocimiento sobre las caracteristicas de las poblaciones prehispanicas de la region. Abstract At the end of the 19 th and beginning of the 20 th century several explorations and excavations took place in archaeological sites at the lower Parana wetland, giving rise, among others, to a vast body of bioarchaeological remains, currently deposited at the Museo de la Plata de la Universidad Nacional de La Plata and at the Museo Etnografico de la Universidad de Buenos Aires. While some of the results from those field works were published, others remain unknown. The aim of this paper is to report on some characteristics of these bioarchaeological collections through the analysis of the 252 individuals that comprise them. Thus, we proceeded to the sex determination and age estimation of the sample, and to the record of taphonomic variables; the latter with the purpose of identifying the possible burial context where these individuals came from. From this analysis, and following the data published, we distinguished between burials in direct contact with the ground or in urns. In turn, a spatial segmentation for some sites was also reported on the basis of age and gender categories, in addition to the presence of personal metal ornaments, ocher, and cut marks on some bones. In this way, we hope to emphasize the value of museum collections and to contribute to gaining further insights into some features of the pre-Hispanic populations in the region.

1 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article , an análisis comparativo con una significativa base of datos relacionada with the tradición of figurinas de cerámica of las Sierras de Córdoba and planicies orientales, tomando en cuenta las correspondencias formales.
Abstract: Se realiza una aproximación a las redes sociales prehispánicas del Holoceno tardío final en el centro de Argentina, a través de un análisis de las relaciones entre grupos asentados en el Paraná medio, por un lado, y en las serranías cordobesas y su piedemonte oriental por otro. Se consideran como referencia los antecedentes arqueológicos, así como datos contenidos en fuentes escritas del tiempo de la conquista española. Además se enfatiza sobre los aspectos estilísticos e iconográficos de un recipiente completo de cerámica, de carácter inédito y procedente de la zona de Coronda, Santa Fe. Se desarrolla un análisis comparativo con una significativa base de datos relacionada con la tradición de figurinas de cerámica de las Sierras de Córdoba y planicies orientales, tomando en cuenta las correspondencias formales. Los resultados señalan claras vinculaciones entre el cántaro de Coronda y estas figurinas, en particular aquellas procedentes del área del río Segundo o Xanaes, que es asimismo la más cercana al sitio donde fue hallado el recipiente. Finalmente, se formulan algunas ideas e hipótesis alternativas que aportan a la comprensión de las conexiones y vínculos sociales entre ambas regiones.

1 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper , análisis compositivo de un conjunto de piezas metálicas and the distribución of minerales metalíferos, con the propósito of discutir their local and extrarregional production, confluyen observaciones sobre las características de los contextos de los hallazgos and sus asociaciones con otros tipos of artefactos.
Abstract: Se exponen resultados de las primeras investigaciones arqueometalúrgicas en las sierras de Córdoba a partir del análisis compositivo de un conjunto de piezas metálicas y la distribución de minerales metalíferos, con el propósito de discutir su producción local y extrarregional. En este sentido, confluyen observaciones sobre las características de los contextos de los hallazgos y sus asociaciones con otros tipos de artefactos. Además, se integran evidencias, como la posible representación iconográfica de piezas metálicas en el arte rupestre y mobiliar, así como menciones en documentos de la época de la conquista española. La problemática en torno a una primera etapa de producción no local y otra etapa de formatización final local conecta estos objetos con el desarrollo de redes de larga distancia, que abarcaron a comunidades del centro de Argentina hacia fines del período prehispánico. Otros aspectos se relacionan con la construcción significativa de determinados lugares, paisajes y vínculos territoriales, de identidades colectivas y de roles personales, y también eventuales relaciones entre grupos originarios y forasteros.

1 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article , the authors summarized and evaluated the article by Eduardo P. Tonni and Politis (1980) on the distribution of guanaco in the province of Buenos Aires.
Abstract: This paper summarizes and evaluates the article by Tonni and Politis (1980) on the distribution of guanaco in the province of Buenos Aires. The publication of this article is contextualized within the career of Eduardo P. Tonni. The integration of different lines of evidence: archaeological, paleontological, and paleoenvironmental are discussed. The data presented by different authors who tested the model are discussed, and the new topics generated from its discussion are presented. Among these new topics is the discussion about the presence of llamas on the banks of the Paraná River and the evaluation of dating on bone collagen taking into account its possibilities of contamination with more recent organic matter. It is concluded that after forty years of its proposal, the guanaco distribution model in the province of Buenos Aires has had remarkable vitality and has generated a debate that is still in force. In general, the model shows some trends that have been consolidated with the evidence generated since its proposal.
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Abstract: Design theory provides a useful means for analyzing both practical and prestige technologies, although the goals and constraints of each are very different. The aggrandizer model of prestige technology postulates that prestige items were essential elements in aggrandizer strategies and that prestige items emerged only under conditions of sustainable food surpluses and included the most important innovations of the last 30,000 years such as metal working, pottery, sophisticated art, and domesticated plants and animals. The aggrandizer model also accounts for the transformation of some prestige technologies into practical technologies.

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Frequently Asked Questions (14)
Q1. What are the contributions in "Archaeometallurgy in the paraná delta (argentina): composition, manufacture, and indigenous routes" ?

The aim of these studies was to determine the chemical composition and the manufacturing techniques of these allochthonous objects frequently placed in human burials. 

The differential treatment performed on these individuals when they died could be a sign of asymmetrical social relationships in which only some members of the society had preferential access to certain exchange goods. 

They are mainly ornaments often found in funerary contexts, which have been interpreted as prestige goods (Taboada, 2014), many of them as symbols of power and social status, which were possibly special gifts from the Incas to local Santiago del Estero populations as part of alliances or in exchange for some services. 

Even the search for metals without intermediaries and the direct theft from mining settlements were powerful incentives for the repeated population movements towards the west made by the Paraguay river Guaraní (named Itatines; Combès, 2015). 

The objectives of these studies were to determine the chemical composition of the objects and the existence of any sort of alloy, as well as to obtain information about the metallurgical manufacturing techniques. 

He was informed there about the interethnic trade circuit that metal objects followed: they got the gold and silver from ‘‘the Payzunos, who are three days away from their land, they give them in trade for bows and arrows and slaves that they take from other nations, and the Payzunos obtain them from the Chanés and Chimenos and Carcaraes and Candires, who are other Indian people, who have lots of them. 

Beneath these layers made by salts, continuous reddish surfaces have been generated, which constitute passivation patinas formed by the oxidation of Cu. 

They have been transported for millennia for very long distances, from the sources and metal production workshops to the places of use, as observed in the southern South American Andes (e.g., González, 1992; González et al., 2011). 

According to early chronicles, one of the main indigenous routes through which metal ornaments and other products reached the Chaná-timbú people in the Paraná River was following the course of one of its tributaries, the Carcarañá River. 

The cultural developments in the NWA did not have a direct impact on the Paraná Delta, although they possibly did affect a greater circulation of goods to remote areas. 

They are only limited to indigenous settlements from the initial period of the Hispanic contact (Las Conchas site, Serrano, 1934 and possibly Arroyo Fredes site, Loponte et al., 2011) and settlements of European origin, which are not included in this paper, such as Santa Fe la Vieja city founded in 1573 (e.g. Fester and Retamar, 1955) and the Franciscan missions of Santiago del Baradero founded in 1615 (Debenedetti, 1910; Tapia et al., 2009). 

In Fig. 6c and d the matrix with annealing twins was observed over a previous inter-dendritic phase, which is characteristic of molten material prior to this hot forming. 

the manufacture hypothesis is that this piece was made by casting in an open mould or bivalve whose interior had the shape of the pendant and contained some sort of implement with an oval section that could craft the holes. 

the first European observations of the local indigenous people can be very useful for understanding how the metals came to the Paraná River.