Stones to build a world: circulation and value of materials in Pre-Columbian Northwestern Argentina

This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from Cambridge University Press via the DOI in this recordThere is another record in the repository for this publication: http://hdl.handle.net/10871/120694This article presents a contextual analysis of stone materials from northwestern Argentina, produced at a time when sedentary life was unfolding throughout the region. It examines the circulation and use practices of everyday obsidian tools, as well as the technical and semantic relationships they established within the wider field of materials and artefacts that characterized the period. Arguing for a sensitive approach to the classificatory logic of past societies, it is proposed here that a particular hierarchy of stone artefacts of regional significance emerged during this period. After discussing anthropological value perspectives and their relevance to Andean archaeology, the article explores Andean conceptualizations of stone that can provide a culturally specific framework for understanding ancient stone materials. The final sections examine the technical and contextual practices involving with domestic stone tools, as well as how these were embedded in a wider landscape of physical and semantic relationships. It is hoped that this article will contribute to ongoing discussions on non-Western models of value and their relevance for understanding social interaction and complexity, both in the south-central Andes and beyond.Part of the research reflected in this article was funded by a British Academy Small grant #51798 (2009) and AHRC Early Career Grant SX-05317 (2011–13)Arts and Humanities Research CouncilBritish Academ

Andean connections: a multi-analytical approach to the circulation of materials and artefacts in pre-Columbian NW Argentina

To explain interaction South-central Andean scholarship has extensively discussed a variety of circulation and exchange practices, with particular emphasis on llama caravan long-distance trade.While material culture styles and traits were undoubtedly shared, the unexamined focus on similarities leaves the mechanisms, direction, and intensity of interaction to speculation. Provenance analyses can shed new light on these ancient relationships, yet focusing on single analytical techniques obscures the nuances of early interaction.To further contribute to the detection of the intricate relationships supporting ancient networks, we implemented a multi-analytical approach to diferent classes of artefacts traditionally considered separately, such as pottery and stone tools. We focus here on the results of the analysis of 542 pottery sherds from rst millennium AD sites from NW Argentina, as well as clay samples, obtained through petrography, NAA, and targeted LA-ICP-MS. We discuss these results against the backdrop of the circulation of other materials such as obsidian and other stones, and the complex and long-standing routes they travelled.In NW Argentina, traditional approaches proposed that regional interaction was an increasingly centralized process, based on typological similarities observed in a variety of materials across the region. Our results provide a platform to examine close intercommunity links rooted on common craft practices, including but not limited to stylistic aspects, and to explore the ancient circulation of goods, skills, and people without assuming the capacity of early elites tomanipulate and capitalize on such networks.Fil: Lazzari, Marisa. University of Exeter; Reino UnidoFil: Pereyra Domingorena, Lucas. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Saavedra 15. Instituto de las Culturas. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Instituto de las Culturas; ArgentinaFil: Scattolin, Maria Cristina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Saavedra 15. Instituto de las Culturas. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Instituto de las Culturas; ArgentinaXVIII° Congres Union Internationale des Sciences Préhistoriques et ProtohistoriquesParísFranciaUnion Internationale des Sciences Préhistoriques et Protohistorique

Social interaction and communities of practice in Formative period NW Argentina: a multi-analytical study of ceramics

We present clear production areas for two distinct polychrome wares in the earlier part of the period. Both networks appear to be geographically selective. The connection between Quebrada del Toro and the southern sector of Calchaquí has been now clearly demonstrated and should be considered in future modeling. There existed shared technological style in the core study area throughout the first millennium AD: ordinary wares varied across valleys but minimally, decorated wares were technologically homogenous (intercommunity circulation of clays, pots, knowledge & skills). Results call for a revision of the purported central role of some areas: Ambato clays not found, Condohuasi likely to have been manufactured at Campo del Pucará but other areas cannot be discarded yet. We need to acknowledge the relevance of connections between ?marginal? areas to model social interaction and emergent complexity. A complex and ever-widening network of associations and mutual dependencies demonstrated beyond typological analysis. The diversity of connections revealed in this study shows that communities often avoided the artifacts and iconographies related to so-called centers.Fil: Lazzari, Marisa. University of Exeter; Reino UnidoFil: Pereyra Domingorena, Lucas. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Filosofía y Letras. Museo Etnográfico "Juan B. Ambrosetti"; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Scattolin, Maria Cristina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Filosofía y Letras. Museo Etnográfico "Juan B. Ambrosetti"; ArgentinaFil: Stoner, Wesley D.. University of Arkansas; Estados UnidosFil: Glascock, Michael D. University of Missouri; Estados Unidos81st Meeting Society for American ArchaeologyOrlandoEstados UnidosSociety for American Archaeolog

Compositional data supports decentralized model of production and circulation of artifacts in the pre-Columbian south-central Andes

The circulation and exchange of goods and resources at various scales have long been considered central to the understanding of complex societies, and the Andes have provided a fertile ground for investigating this process. However, long-standing archaeological emphasis on typological analysis, although helpful to hypothesize the direction of contacts, has left important aspects of ancient exchange open to speculation. To improve understanding of ancient exchange practices and their potential role in structuring alliances, we examine material exchanges in northwest Argentina (part of the south-central Andes) during 400 BC to AD 1000 (part of the regional Formative Period), with a multianalytical approach (petrography, instrumental neutron activation analysis, laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry) to artifacts previously studied separately. We assess the standard centralized model of interaction vs. a decentralized model through the largest provenance database available to date in the region. The results show: (i) intervalley heterogeneity of clays and fabrics for ordinary wares; (ii) intervalley homogeneity of clays and fabrics for a wide range of decoratedwares (e.g., painted Ciénaga); (iii) selective circulation of two distinct polychrome wares (Vaquerías and Condorhuasi); (iv) generalized access to obsidian from one major source and various minor sources; and (v) selective circulation of volcanic rock tools from a single source. These trends reflect the multiple and conflicting demands experienced by people in small-scale societies, which may be difficult to capitalize by aspiring elites. The study undermines centralized narratives of exchange for this period, offering a new platform for understanding ancient exchange based on actual material transfers, both in the Andes and beyond.Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Muse

Compositional data supports decentralized model of production and circulation of artifacts in the pre-Columbian south-central Andes

ArticleThis is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from National Academy of Sciences via the DOI in this record.The circulation and exchange of goods and resources at various scales have long been considered central to the understanding of complex societies, and the Andes have provided a fertile ground for investigating this process. However, long-standing archaeological emphasis on typological analysis, although helpful to hypothesize the direction of contacts, has left important aspects of ancient exchange open to speculation. To improve understanding of ancient exchange practices and their potential role in structuring alliances, we examine material exchanges in northwest Argentina (part of the south-central Andes) during 400 BC to AD 1000 (part of the regional Formative Period), with a multianalytical approach (petrography, instrumental neutron activation analysis, laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry) to artifacts previously studied separately. We assess the standard centralized model of interaction vs. a decentralized model through the largest provenance database available to date in the region. The results show: (i) intervalley heterogeneity of clays and fabrics for ordinary wares; (ii) intervalley homogeneity of clays and fabrics for a wide range of decorated wares (e.g., painted Ciénaga); (iii) selective circulation of two distinct polychrome wares (Vaquerías and Condorhuasi); (iv) generalized access to obsidian from one major source and various minor sources; and (v) selective circulation of volcanic rock tools from a single source. These trends reflect the multiple and conflicting demands experienced by people in small-scale societies, which may be difficult to capitalize by aspiring elites. The study undermines centralized narratives of exchange for this period, offering a new platform for understanding ancient exchange based on actual material transfers, both in the Andes and beyond.We thank the former directors of Museo Etnográfico (University of Buenos Aires), M. N. Tarragó (2005–2015) and the late J. A. Pérez Gollán (1987–2005), who provided access to key samples and enthusiastic support for this project since its earliest stages. We also thank M. Berón (current Director of Museo Etnográfico, University of Buenos Aires), R. Cattáneo (Director of Museo de Antropología, University of Córdoba, 2011–2013), J. P. Carbonelli, M. E. De Feo, V. Puente, G. Míguez, and R. Spano for providing access to additional samples; A. Brechbuhler and E. Gillispie for assisting with lithic sample preparation and measurements; and C. Roush for preparing the samples for irradiation and for general laboratory management responsibilities. This research was primarily funded by Arts and Humanities Research Council Early Career Grant SX–5317 (2011–2013) and preliminary research was funded by British Academy Small Grant 51798 (2009) (both to M.L.). Fieldwork and petrography analyses have been supported by successive grants from Argentinean National Agency for Science and Technology (ANCyT) Raíces Program PICT 2007-00116 (to M.C.S.) and ANCyT PICT 2010-1048 (to M.A.K.). Funding was also provided by the National Council for Science and Technical Research PIP 112-2008 01-00256 (to M.C.S.) and PIP 11/042 (to M.A.K.). The Archaeometry Laboratory at the University of Missouri Research Reactor is supported in part by the National Science Foundation (BCS-1415403 and BCS-0922374)

Conjuntos materiales en dimensión temporal : El sitio formativo “Bañado Viejo” (Valle de Santa María, Tucumán)

Los estudios que tratan las ocupaciones pre-santamarianas en el Valle de Santa María son muy escasos. El presente trabajo pretende contribuir al conocimiento de estas ocupaciones del primer milenio A.D. dando a conocer el material procedente de las excavaciones en un sitio del fondo del valle, Bailado Viejo, pocos kilómetros al norte de Quilmes (Tucumán. Argentina). Se ofrece una caracterización preliminar de los conjuntos materiales recuperados, particularmente la cerámica, sobre la base de su distribución en el tiempo. Los fechados radio carbónicos presentados aquí son los primeros con que contamos del fondo del Valle de Salita María que están asociados con seguridad a material cerámico pre-santamariano. Los materiales óseos y líticos han permitido evaluar y afinar algunas circunstancias y características de la depositación en el sitio. La sucesión de variantes en las pastas,formas, tratamientos de superficie, técnicas y motivos decorativos pone de manifiesto cambios en la alfarería a través del tiempo considerado.There are only few studies that address pre-Santa María occupations at Santa María Valley. This paper seeks to contribute to the archaeology of the I millennium A. D. occupations presenting evidence from a site at the valley bottom, Bañado Viejo, located few kilometers north from Quilmes (Tucumán, Argentina). Preliminary characterization of the excavated material -mainly ceramics- is offered, and its distribution through time is examined. Radiocarbondates presented here are the first from the bottom of Santa María Valley that are securely associated with pre-Santa María ceramic material. Bone and lithic materials were used to evaluate and to better know conditions and characteristics of the depositational history of the site. The attribute sequence of clay fabrics, shapes, surface treatments, and decorative designs shows changes in pottery over time.Sociedad Argentina de Antropologí

Conjuntos materiales en dimensión temporal : El sitio formativo “Bañado Viejo” (Valle de Santa María, Tucumán)

Los estudios que tratan las ocupaciones pre-santamarianas en el Valle de Santa María son muy escasos. El presente trabajo pretende contribuir al conocimiento de estas ocupaciones del primer milenio A.D. dando a conocer el material procedente de las excavaciones en un sitio del fondo del valle, Bailado Viejo, pocos kilómetros al norte de Quilmes (Tucumán. Argentina). Se ofrece una caracterización preliminar de los conjuntos materiales recuperados, particularmente la cerámica, sobre la base de su distribución en el tiempo. Los fechados radio carbónicos presentados aquí son los primeros con que contamos del fondo del Valle de Salita María que están asociados con seguridad a material cerámico pre-santamariano. Los materiales óseos y líticos han permitido evaluar y afinar algunas circunstancias y características de la depositación en el sitio. La sucesión de variantes en las pastas,formas, tratamientos de superficie, técnicas y motivos decorativos pone de manifiesto cambios en la alfarería a través del tiempo considerado.There are only few studies that address pre-Santa María occupations at Santa María Valley. This paper seeks to contribute to the archaeology of the I millennium A. D. occupations presenting evidence from a site at the valley bottom, Bañado Viejo, located few kilometers north from Quilmes (Tucumán, Argentina). Preliminary characterization of the excavated material -mainly ceramics- is offered, and its distribution through time is examined. Radiocarbondates presented here are the first from the bottom of Santa María Valley that are securely associated with pre-Santa María ceramic material. Bone and lithic materials were used to evaluate and to better know conditions and characteristics of the depositational history of the site. The attribute sequence of clay fabrics, shapes, surface treatments, and decorative designs shows changes in pottery over time.Sociedad Argentina de Antropologí

Massively distributed authorship of academic papers

Wiki-like or crowdsourcing models of collaboration can provide a number of benefits to academic work. These techniques may engage expertise from different disciplines, and potentially increase productivity. This paper presents a model of massively distributed collaborative authorship of academic papers. This model, developed by a collective of thirty authors, identifies key tools and techniques that would be necessary or useful to the writing process. The process of collaboratively writing this paper was used to discover, negotiate, and document issues in massively authored scholarship. Our work provides the first extensive discussion of the experiential aspects of large-scale collaborative research.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft