WARES OF KNOWLEDGE AND HISTORY: SOCIAL INTER-REGIONAL INTERACTION IN THE JUBONES RIVER BASIN, ECUADOR (CA. 1,000 BCE)
By
MIRIAM EDITH DOMINGUEZ
A DISSERTATION PRESENTED TO THE GRADUATE SCHOOL OF THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY
UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
2017
© 2017 Miriam Edith Domínguez
To Jacob
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This dissertation has come to fruition thanks to several individuals and organizations. I must first thank my adviser, Neill Wallis, who took me on as a student even though we have different geographic areas of specialization and guided me through the process of fieldwork and dissertation writing. This work has taken form thanks to Neill‘s advice and assurance. For this and Neill‘s generosity and collegiality I thank him. I am also indebted to my committee members, Ken Sassaman, Michael Moseley and Mark Brenner who guided me through this process with enthusiasm, encouragement and useful critique. I am, however, responsible for any errors or omissions in this work.
In Uzhcurrumi, Ecuador, I enjoyed the trust, friendship and assistance of the owners of
Potrero Mendieta, Doña Rosa Chávez and her son Luis Mendieta. The fieldwork was carried out with the help of Marco Asanza and Manuel Sánchez who shared with me shoulder to shoulder the joys and travails of the field investigation. Joel Sánchez was instrumental in the identification of the site and I am grateful to him and to his mother, Doña Barbarita Velepucha, who lodged us during our time in Uzhcurrumi. I must also acknowledge the moral support throughout the field seasons at Potero Mendieta provided by the Uzhcurrumi‘s town council ―La
Junta Parroquial.‖ The permit to perform these investigations was granted by the Institute of
Cultural Patrimony, Region 7; archaeologist Cecivel Abril inspected these investigations and visited the site the field seasons of 2014 and 2015.
After fieldwork, the petrographic analysis of a sample of the ceramics was performed by
Ann Cordell, from the Florida Museum of Natural History. I am grateful to Ann for her generosity with her expertise and tremendous patience throughout the process. Ryan Morini, from the Samuel Proctor Oral History Program at UF, provided insightful commentary and discussion on the theoretical portion of this research. Michael Perfit and John Jaeger from the
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Department of Geological Sciences at UF helped me by identifying the volcanic tephra from the deposits after the first field season, and Dr. Perfit also provided advice during the petrographic analyses. I also thank Will Gilstrap, formerly at MURR, for his work with the NAA analysis.
I want to heartily thank the individuals who have helped me one way or another to manage the hurdles of this process, especially Larry Burton from Burton Instruments, Juanita
Bagnall from the Department of Anthropology at UF, and in the Jubones my friends Doña
Matilde Serrano, Don Honorio Ordoñez and Doña Graciela Sánchez. Also, at the University of
Florida, I have been encouraged and revitalized by the friendship of my colleagues Ryan Morini,
Ashley Sharpe, Andrea Palmiotto and Michelle Eusebio.
My parents and mother-in-law have seen me through my academic career and have been as supportive and patient as they can be. My mother, Miriam Seminario, has continuously supported my efforts and even helped fund five of the six AMS dates. Finally, I thank my husband, Jacob Lawson who has not only provided support at the home front, but shared with me the investigations in the Jubones and the fieldwork in Potrero Mendieta. Jacob, who is not a professional archaeologist, involved himself with the totality of this project, from the logistics of the field to the discussions on the research design. I am humbled by his intellectual and practical input in all this – to him, I dedicate this work, with love and gratitude.
The investigations of Potrero Mendieta were partially funded by the Center for Latin
American Studies Tinker Foundation Research Grant, the Paul and Polly Doughty Research
Award from the Anthropology Department at UF, the MURR subsidy program sponsored by
NSF grant #1415403, and personal funds.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
page
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ...... 4
LIST OF TABLES ...... 9
LIST OF FIGURES ...... 11
ABSTRACT ...... 15
CHAPTER
1 INTRODUCTION ...... 17
The Elusive Modes of Interaction and Mobility in the Andes ...... 18 Organization of the Dissertation ...... 20 From Field Research to Interpretation ...... 22
2 REGIONAL BACKGROUND ...... 23
Forming the Ecuadorian Formative ...... 23 The Southern Ecuadorian Highlands ...... 27 The Central and Southern Ecuadorian Coast ...... 40 The Northern Ecuadorian Andes ...... 47 The Amazonian Piedmont ...... 48 The Social Emergence of the Physical World ...... 55 The Physical World in Time ...... 59 Geological Setting of the Jubones River Basin ...... 66 The Jubones Basin During the Formative ...... 68
3 SITE DESCRIPTION AND FIELD REPORT ...... 70
The Site ...... 70 Disambiguation of the Archaeology of the Jubones River Basin ...... 72 The Fieldwork ...... 77 Identification and Preservation State of the Site ...... 77 Team of Investigators ...... 79 Mapping of the site ...... 80 Layout of the Architectural Complex ...... 80 Archaeological Excavations ...... 84 Structure 1 ...... 89 Structure 2 ...... 94 Structure 3 ...... 103 Trench BF -71, BF -72: The Pavement ...... 109 Sector BQ -51; BR -51; BQ -52; BR -52 ...... 113 STP 10: The Reservoir ...... 116
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Test Unit FX 83 ...... 119 STP 11: Unit αH 1 ...... 119 Dating of the Site ...... 121 Samples ...... 121 Interpretation of the Results ...... 121 Artifacts Overview ...... 124 The Construction Practices at Potrero Mendieta ...... 132 Notes ...... 133
4 SOCIAL INTERACTION AND GEOLOGICAL KNOWLEDGE: AN APPLICATION OF CERAMIC PETROGRAPHIC ANALYSIS OF THE WARES AND CLAYS FROM THE POTRERO MENDIETA SITE (~1,000 BCE) ...... 134
Petrographic Analysis of Pottery and Clay Samples from Potrero Mendieta ...... 134 Preparations of the Sample and Analytical Procedures ...... 135 Prominent Mineralogical Constituents ...... 136 Temper Categories ...... 137 Felsic Temper ...... 138 Mafic Temper ...... 140 Volcanic Temper ...... 142 Clay Samples ...... 146 Discussion of the Results ...... 147 Petrographic Fabric Groups ...... 154 Summary and Conclusions ...... 159 Notes ...... 161
5 NEUTRON ACTIVATION ANALYSIS: THE RENDERINGS OF KNOWLEDGE AND HISTORY IN THE JUBONES RIVER BASIN ...... 164
Neutron Activation Analysis (NAA) ...... 166 Neutron Activation Analysis of the Samples from Potrero Mendieta ...... 167 Interpretation of the Chemical Data: Methods ...... 167 Results ...... 169 Comparison with petrographic data ...... 172 Discussion ...... 174 Comparative Analysis ...... 178 Comparisons with the Datasets Analyzed by MURR ...... 178 Neutron Activation Analysis of Ceramics of Burials at Palmitopamba, Ecuador...... 179 Neutron Activation Analysis of Ceramics of Loma de los Cangrejitos, Ecuador ...... 179 Comparative Analysis ...... 180 Discussion and comparison with petrographic data ...... 183 Comparisons between the datasets analyzed by MURR and the McMaster dataset .....183 Summary and Discussion of the Compositional Analyses ...... 185 Chemical Compositions and their Geological Relationships ...... 185 Chronology and Compositional Variability ...... 187 Local Versus Non-Local Pottery ...... 188 Vessels of History: Narratives of Context and Composition ...... 189
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Notes ...... 191
6 CONCLUSION...... 194
Potrero Mendieta as an Enclave of Inter-regional Interaction ...... 195 Summary of the Findings...... 199 The Potrero Mendieta Case-Study: Conclusions and Future Directions ...... 202 Notes ...... 203
APPENDIX
A PETROGRAPHIC ANALYSIS ...... 204
B NEUTRON ACTIVATION ANALYSIS ...... 227
LIST OF REFERENCES ...... 244
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH ...... 271
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LIST OF TABLES
Table page
2-1 Formative Period Chronology for the Western Ecuadorian Lowlands ...... 32
3-1 AMS dates and 2 sigma calibration...... 122
3-2 Summary of artifacts recovered during the field seasons of 2014 and 2015...... 126
3-3 Piece plotted artifacts ...... 127
A-1 List of samples for petrographic analysis...... 205
A-2 Gross temper category descriptions...... 206
A-3 Other physical properties identified in the samples and statistical comparisons of fabric and temper...... 207
A-4 Petrographic data by temper and petro-fabric categories, and statistical comparisons of temper and petro-fabric categories ...... 210
A-5 Particle size data by temper and petro-fabric categories, and statistical comparisons of temper and petro-fabric categories ...... 212
A-6 Raw point counts...... 213
A-7 Particle size...... 216
A-8 Percentages ...... 220
A-9 Particle size index. Silt counts included with very fine in clay samples in bold...... 223
A-10 Key to the headings and abbreviations for petrographic data...... 226
B-1 List of samples for NAA analysis ...... 228
B-2 Principal component analysis of the Potrero Mendieta ceramic assemblage ...... 230
B-3 Mahalanobis distance–based probabilities (p) of group membership for DOM-1 ...... 231
B-4 Total Variation Matrix ...... 232
B-5 Principal component analysis of the combined ceramic assemblages produced at MURR from Guayas, Palmitopamba, and Potrero Mendieta ...... 234
B-6 Group Classification using Mahalanobis Distance in the Ecuadorian samples analyzed at MURR from Guayas and Palmitopamba, and Potrero Mendieta...... 235
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B-7 Total Variation Matrix calculations for the combined datasets from Guayas, Palmitopamba and Potrero Mendieta ...... 240
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LIST OF FIGURES
Figure page
2-1 Lacay flat stone (Photo by Jacob Lawson)...... 56
2-2 Germania Ordoñez guiding the tracing of the carvings (Photo by Jacob Lawson)...... 57
2-3 A sun shaped carving ...... 58
2-4 Mr. Luis Pesántez, member of the village council of San Rafael (~ 1800 m asl)...... 62
2-5 Mrs. Estela de Guayasaca and Jacob Lawson enjoying cocoa pods during a hike ...... 65
2-6 Detail of the granodiorite boulder on the hillslope on the way to Potrero Mendieta ...... 65
3-1 Uzhcurrumi from the southern hillside on the path to Potrero Mendieta ...... 71
3-2 Doña Rosa Chávez showing a worked chert fragment to her grandchildren...... 72
3-3 The extent of the Jubones valley after Verneau and Rivet (1912) ...... 76
3-4 The central Jubones riverbed from the town of Lacay...... 77
3-5 Overview of the site ...... 78
3-6 Mr. Joel Sánchez at Potrero Mendieta ...... 78
3-7 From left to right: Marco Asanza, Manuel Salazar, Miriam Domínguez, and Jacob Lawson ...... 80
3-8 Marco Asanza using an auger to reach beyond sterile level at one of the paved structures in the site ...... 82
3-9 Topographic map of Potrero Mendieta at 0.5 meter intervals...... 83
3-10 Photographs of the volcanic tephra at 10 X ...... 86
3-11 Worked lithic fragment with pressure flaked edges ...... 87
3-12 Unit labeling schemata ...... 88
3-13 Grid of 1 x1 meter units for Structure 1...... 89
3-14 Unit DL24, north wall profile ...... 90
3-15 Rim PM_EC2014_08...... 91
3-16 Units DM 23 and DN23, north wall profile...... 92
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3-17 Excavation in progress of units DM23 and DN23...... 93
3-18 West-east view of units DL23, DM23 and DN23 ...... 93
3-19 Grid of 1 x1 meter units for Structure 2...... 95
3-20 Units CT-10, CT-9, CT-8 and CT-7 ...... 98
3-21 Mosaic-like placement of rock after the backfilling event in Structure 2...... 99
3-22 Top layer of the rock mound...... 99
3-23 Lowest level of mounded rocks with blue pigmented rock at the center ...... 100
3-24 Rock with blue pigment...... 100
3-25 Red ochre...... 101
3-26 Fragment of a chert flake # CT-10_4572 Stratum 6...... 101
3-27 Lithic débitage CT-9, Stratum 6...... 102
3-28 Units CT-7 and CT-8 ...... 102
3-29 Line of rocks immediately south of where the mound of rocks was placed ...... 103
3-30 Grid of 1 x1 meter units for Structure 3...... 105
3-31 Units BV50 and BW50...... 105
3-32 Unit BX50...... 106
3-33 Units BY50...... 106
3-34 East-west view of structure 3. Note the collapsed concentric walls...... 107
3-35 Tephra in unit BV50...... 108
3-36 Unworked jadeite nugget, unit BX50, Stratum 1...... 109
3-37 Postmold BW50...... 109
3-38 Grid of 1 x1 meter units for the pavement...... 111
3-39 Units BF-71 and BF-72, east wall profile...... 111
3-40 BF-72 with spiral pavement...... 112
3-41 BF-71 sterile level...... 112
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3-42 Manuel Salazar holding an unworked quartz flake...... 113
3-43 Grid of 1 x1 meter units for sector BQ and BR...... 114
3-44 Units BQ-51, BR-51, BQ-52 and BR-52...... 114
3-45 Units BQ-51, BR-51, BQ-52 and BR-52 with auger tests...... 115
3-46 Marco Asanza excavating STP10 in the center of the reservoir ...... 118
3-47 Pottery sherds recovered at 85 cm DBS in STP10 ...... 118
3-48 Probability histograms for the six calibrated AMS assays ...... 124
3-49 Representative profiles of the pottery sherds recovered from Potrero Mendieta ...... 125
4-1 Photomicrographs of illustrative samples of temper and fabric groups ...... 138
4-2 In comparison to the pattern identified in the felsic samples, the mafic group is relatively homogeneous with respect to the variability in particle size ...... 141
4-3 Most of the felsic-tempered samples, the constituents are predominantly angular to sub-rounded, with angular to sub-angular morphology ...... 142
4-4 The matrix color variation identified in most of the mafic samples show that these wares were made from reddish-firing iron rich clays ...... 145
4-5 Mean thickness of the samples ...... 145
4-6 Ternary plot of bulk compositions ...... 149
4-7 Ternary diagram plots the percentages of matrix, silt (microfossils) and very fine and fine sand ...... 152
4-8 Ternary plot of bulk aplastic particle size variability illustrates the relative homogeneity in this sample ...... 153
4-9 Ternary plot of gross constituent composition...... 153
4-10 Ternary plot of mineralogical composition...... 154
4-11 The three petrographic fabric groups ...... 155
4-12 Matrix color variability in the pottery samples ...... 156
4-13 Bulk composition by petro-fabric category ...... 157
4-14 Bulk particle size by petro-fabric category ...... 158
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4-15 Ternary plot of gross temper composition illustrates that petro-fabric variability...... 158
4-16 These ternary plots of gross mineralogical composition reflect a greater variability within and between fabric groups ...... 159
5-1 Sample MED005...... 176
5-2 Sample MED008...... 177
5-3 Sample MED015...... 177
5-4 Sample MED019...... 178
B-1 Principal component biplot of first two components (56.7 % total variance) showing clays and ceramic samples ...... 242
B-2 Bivariate plot comparing Manganese (Mn) and Chromium (Cr) concentrations (ppm)...... 242
B-3 Bivariate plot comparing Cesium (Cs) and Scandium (Sc) concentrations (ppm) ...... 243
B-4 Principal component biplot of first two components (51.6 % total variance) from the three MURR datasets ...... 243
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Abstract of Dissertation Presented to the Graduate School of the University of Florida in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy
WARES OF KNOWLEDGE AND HISTORY: SOCIAL INTER-REGIONAL INTERACTION IN THE JUBONES RIVER BASIN, ECUADOR (CA. 1,000 BCE) By
Miriam Edith Domínguez
December 2017
Chair: Neill J. Wallis Major: Anthropology
This dissertation examines inter-regional interaction and human mobility in the Jubones
River Basin, southwestern Ecuador, during the first millennium B.C.E. Three seasons of archaeological field investigations at the site Potrero Mendieta generated a snapshot of human occupations in the trans-Andean Jubones River Valley and yielded material remains in the form of architectural structures, ceramic wares, and lithic artifacts. In this monograph results from the
Neutron Activation Analyses (NAA) and petrographic analyses of pottery and clay samples from
Potrero Mendieta we used to interpret the processes of social interaction and travel associated with this biogeographic context and other coeval social formations on the Ecuadorian coast and in the highlands.
Previous archaeological research on this period, known as the Formative, tackled inter- regional interaction as having been synonymous with the presence of exotic materials from biogeographically diverse and remote regions. It also associated these long-distance exchange networks with bourgeoning social and political complexity.
This archaeological analysis departs from the notion that the ―physical world‖ and the
―social world‖ are and have always been mutually constituted. As such, inter-regional social interaction is not only materially demonstrable through the unequivocal presence of foreign
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objects, but also through the knowledge of the physical world acquired by travelling across the landscape that is rendered in the materials used to manufacture pottery. Here, the application of archaeological sciences to analyze materials at the compositional level generated data suitable for the interpretation of the historical processes of human mobility and social interaction and foregrounded materials and their physical qualities as participants and mediators of history.
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CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION
Mobility is an integral part of human history. The social relationships and engagements through practice with the physical world are dynamic acts that reference the past. The archaeological investigations at the site Potrero Mendieta (ca. ~1,000 BCE), in southwestern
Ecuador, yielded archaeological evidence that is suitable to explain mobility and social interaction in a biogeographic corridor. This corridor, the Jubones inter-Andean valley, provides one of just a few easily travelable passages between the western and eastern lowlands.
Preliminary archaeological fieldwork at Potrero Mendieta revealed monumental architecture and ceramic artifacts that denote cultural associations with both the Formative period (ca. 4400 – 300 BCE) populations from the Pacific coast of Ecuador and those of the eastern lowlands. Potrero Mendieta is the largest recorded site from the Formative in the region.
The construction of the structures distributed throughout the two-hectare site required a significant amount of labor. Whether the construction and the occupation of Potrero Mendieta was intended for ceremonial purposes, or was itself an act that gathered people from different regions, it is likely to have been a center of pilgrimage or assembly. The location of Potrero
Mendieta in an ecotone between the Andes and the lowlands would have played a role in the social engagements and had historical significance for the social formations that were associated with this enclave.
The chemical and petrographic analyses performed on the pottery fragments recovered at
Potrero Mendieta offer empirical evidence of the wide-ranging and varied technological choices made by the communities associated with the site. The technological choices identified in these analyses were informed by interactions of different people in this region and by travel to other locales during the Formative. Previous studies on this culture-historical period, characterized by
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the flourishing of ceramic production, have yielded data demonstrating dynamic networks of inter-regional interaction and this study investigates broader archaeological questions of social interaction using different lines of evidence such as compositional analyses.
The historical processes that have produced and continue to shape social relations involve a constant negotiation of practices that reference the changing and/or emergent situations brought about by intercultural and/or inter-regional interactions. Archaeological studies of multicultural interregional interaction highlight how the nuanced and complex processes of both place-making and emergence of identities are indelibly linked to the mobility of people.
The Elusive Modes of Interaction and Mobility in the Andes
In this dissertation, the questions generated from the archaeology of Potrero Mendieta have been geared towards understanding social interaction as processes mediated by the practical and social engagement with the physical world. The materials identified at or recovered during field research at Potrero Mendieta comprise significant architectural structures and the fragmented remains of ceramic vessels and other material culture. The physical properties of these materials and their biogeographic context are the analytical vectors from which the researcher can infer the character of mobility through the landscape and the interaction of knowledge through traveling. These lines of inquiry are, however, not novel. Numerous researchers have tackled the investigation of pre-Hispanic social interaction and mobility in the
Andes from different epistemological, ontological and methodological positions. Archaeological studies in South America have provided important and incrementally more precise data on several fronts. The topics of research have included ancient environmental conditions (Pearsall et al. 2016; Sandweiss 1996; Sandweiss et al. 1996), the intense anthropogenic transformations to the landscape prior to European contact (Denevan 2001), and analysis of the varied human responses to the ever-transforming physical world (Moseley 1974; Stothert et al. 2003). But
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even before the widespread use of techniques from the physical, biological and chemical sciences, social scientists sought to characterize social systems in the context of the environmental and biogeographic conditions associated with a determined temporal setting.
These characterizations also influenced archaeological interpretations. For example, the intensive bioanthropological studies on twentieth-century human populations from the high- altitude montane Andean ecosystems (Little 1981; Monge 1948) have been persuasive in archaeological examinations that apply to biological adaptive strategies in antiquity (Aldenderfer
1999).
In Andean studies, characterizations of the physical world have also influenced anthropological and archaeological explanations for interregional interaction in the Andes.
Perhaps the most notable scholarly contribution addressing Andean economic strategies in relation to the diverse Andean landscape is the ―Vertical Archipelago Model,‖ devised by anthropologist John Victor Murra. Murra (1972) asserted that Andean societies instituted outposts in various, and even non-contiguous, ecological zones to create a self-sufficient and diversified access to goods. Verticality was not only an ecological model, but also an anti- market model oriented by two theoretical strands: the historical materialism of Heinrich Cunow
(Cunow 1933[1896]; Murra 1981), and the studies of non-industrial market economies by the economist Karl Polany (1968[1944]). Cunow characterized Andean political economies as rooted in agrarian practices, community cooperation, and kinship relations (Cunow 1933[1896]), and Polany asserted that ancient societies maintained archetypical modes of redistribution and reciprocity that are based on kin relations and centralized in religious and political authority
(Polany (1968[1944]). At the intersection of these two currents, Murra (1972) developed a model that explicates pre-European Andean economies as unified by reciprocal and
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redistributive mechanisms that operate throughout the vertically varied ecological niches of the
Andes. Archaeologist Mary Van Buren (1986) has criticized the broadly functionalist underpinnings of this model as it circumscribes the management and redistribution of goods to a centralized political authority within a relatively well-balanced system (Van Buren 1996:340).
Anthropologist Enrique Mayer has also noted that Murra disregarded any substantiation that would support the existence of a market economy in the Andes, even when presented with evidence of barter (Mayer 2013:309-311). Murra resolutely maintained his proposition that
Andean societies were organized as centralized systems that drove economy through reciprocity, by means of a resourceful and sustainable ecological mosaic (Masuda et al. 1985; Murra 1972).
Five decades before the development of the verticality model for the Andes, Marcel
Mauss (1922) had already argued against the generalized characterization of non-Western societies as ‗barter‘ economies with underdeveloped market strategies and identified that these so-called ―primitive societies‖ were structured on a system of ―gift giving.‖
In this dissertation, inter-regional interaction was examined as a dynamic process that is identifiable through the presence of non-local artifacts and materials and the configuration and construction of an architectural complex. The hypothesis that all pottery remains are locally made can be tested, at the micro-level, through compositional analysis of ceramic and, at the macro-level, through comparisons with other compositional datasets.
Organization of the Dissertation
The chapters in this monograph have been organized to contextualize Potrero Mendieta within the archaeology of the Formative. This will include addressing the natural background of the region, the archaeological fieldwork undertaken, and the reports and interpretation of the compositional analysis of the ceramics and clays recovered from Potrero Mendieta. Finally, the
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conclusion is a synthesis of the findings and the interpretations of the data gathered through these investigations.
The first section introduces the research questions and objectives that have driven this research program. In Chapter 2, the research of Potrero Mendieta will be situated within the scholarly output on the archaeology of the culture-historical period known as the Formative. The physical setting of these archaeological investigations is also integrated into the discussion of the social implications of the natural history and geography of the valley. This survey of the region, mainly of the geology of the region, serves as the background for the ensuing chapters that cover the compositional analyses of samples of the ceramic wares and clays recovered from Potrero
Mendieta. Chapter 3 covers the pilot field research in the Jubones Valley and the identification and archaeological excavations at Potrero Mendieta. Chapter 4 comprises the petrographic analysis that evaluates both the compositional and textural variability of the samples of pottery and clays from Potrero Mendieta to assess the possible sources of the materials used to produce these wares. The petrographic analyses are compared with an extant petrographic dataset from coastal Ecuador. In chapter 5, the petrographic analyses are discussed in tandem with the
Neutron Activation Analyses. The report and interpretation of the Neutron Activation analyses performed at the Missouri Nuclear Reactor includes the comparisons of the Potrero Mendieta materials with the chemical compositional groups from other studies of Ecuadorian coastal and highland archaeological ceramics. These compositional analyses helped determine probable provenance of the ceramics used at Potrero Mendieta around the first millennium BCE and the constituents associated with their composition. The final chapter offers a critical synthesis of the research presented in this monograph.
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From Field Research to Interpretation
The investigations at Potrero Mendieta attend to the relational character of social life and the physical world. They do so first by considering the ancient inhabitants of the Jubones River
Basin to have been keen observers of the natural world through which they moved and, second, by integrating the empirically demonstrable characteristics of the material renderings of that knowledge in the interpretation of social practice.
The archaeological investigation of Potrero Mendieta is a labor of the present in that this archaeological project has been informed by the relationships and cooperation that have been established throughout the project. The impending upsurge in infrastructure (e.g. the construction of the hydro-electric dam on the Jubones River) highlights the urgency of research in the area and offers an opportunity to reflect on archaeology‘s emerging role in the current affairs of local communities. Throughout the course of the project there has been a constant engagement with the local stakeholders, ranging from quotidian interactions and conversations to more structured presentations and workshops in the villages. Additionally, the author has had the opportunity to conduct interviews with numerous people from the hamlets and villages of the
Jubones Valley. Whereas these interviews are not discussed in this monograph, these contemporary histories are also marked by the intense traveling up and down the jagged mountains, from east to west through the valleys that connect the eastern and western lowlands.
Furthermore, the experience of migration and the connections of present-day inhabitants of the
Jubones with other regions in the country and abroad provide a productive reconceptualization of the many ways in which mobility and social interactions have shaped knowledge and social relations.
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CHAPTER 2 REGIONAL BACKGROUND
Throughout the history of archaeological research in southwestern Ecuador and northern
Peru, archaeologists have offered a plethora of interpretations that highlight the existence of interregional connections between the coast and the interior. The Jubones Basin has been of great archaeological interest for its geographic location between the western Andean cordillera and the lowlands (Hocquenghem et al. 2003; Grieder et al. 2009; Stahl 2005). The Potrero
Mendieta project is the first long term investigation in the region and the site is so far the largest that has been identified in the Jubones River Basin. The archaeological data from Potrero
Mendieta have yielded evidence for inter-regional interaction. In the context of the Formative
Period (ca. 4400 -300 BCE) in the southern Ecuadorian Andes, what role did Potrero Mendieta play in inter-regional social interaction and how did the biogeographic configuration of the
Jubones River Basin facilitate human mobility across diverse natural regions?
To address this question, this chapter outlines the archaeology of the region, specifically, the archaeology of the Ecuadorian Formative. The archaeological research that preceded investigations at Potrero Mendieta is critical for the contextualization of the newly obtained evidence. This chapter also presents a general survey of the biogeography, the ecology and the geology of the Jubones River Basin.
Forming the Ecuadorian Formative
Ecuadorian archaeology or archaeology practiced in present-day Ecuador is grounded in culture-history (Meggers 1966). Culture, in culture-history explanatory models, is conceptualized as the collection of traits identified in the material renderings of past human activity. And thus, cultural categories are units of analyses that are inductively identified, organized in relation to chronological and spatial distribution and employed as the basis upon
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which theoretical models, methods, and techniques have been developed to explain local or regional culture change. The improvements in archaeological techniques, such as in dating methods, have contributed to the refinement and refurbishment of chronological taxonomies and explanations for social and historical processes, and such re-assessments have continued to mirror the long-established culture-history delineations (Hill 1974, Moore 2010, Valdez 2013,
Zeidler 2008).
In the beginning of the twentieth century, South American archaeology was deeply influenced by intellectual currents from Western Europe and their response to social evolutionism as an explanatory model for social change. This was the historical context that informed the approach espoused by one of the founding figures of South American archaeology, the German archaeologist Max Uhle (Tantaleán 2014:30-31). Jacinto Jijón y Caamaño, an affluent Ecuadorian historian, politician and gentlemen archaeologist, invited Uhle to Ecuador to expand upon the archaeological investigations that he [Uhle] had already started in Peru and
Bolivia, when they both met at the XVII International Congress of Americanists in Buenos Aires in 1910 (Bruhns 2007:176-177). Uhle‘s archaeological explorations, specifically in the southern
Ecuadorian highlands (Uhle 1922a, 1922b, 1922c, 1922d, 1936) were informed by the then favored explanatory modes for cultural change of diffusionism and migration, which in turn became the foundation of the culture-history categories under which archaeological research programs have been developed in Ecuador ever since.
The approaches inspired by diffusionist thinking shared many correspondences with evolutionary explanations (Trigger 2006:217-222); these correspondences are latent in the chronology delineated for Ecuadorian archaeological contexts by American archaeologist Betty
Meggers. Along with her husband, archaeologist Clifford Evans, Meggers was invited to
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Ecuador by a well-connected businessman from Guayaquil, Emilio Estrada. Estrada conveyed his interest in archaeology by amassing a large collection of looted artifacts from the Ecuadorian coast and by seeking Meggers‘s and Evans‘s collaboration for the investigation of the early ceramic sites from which his collections were obtained (Bruhns 2007:182). Based on the diverse cultural manifestations that she identified throughout her work in the Ecuadorian coast, Meggers promoted explanations for social change that were based on notions of cultural evolution determined by environmental impact and natural selection (Meggers 1966, 1983, 1991).
Whereas Max Uhle embraced an early twentieth century diffussionist vision by interpreting pre-
Inca cultures as having a proto-Maya origin (Uhle 1922a, 1922b), Meggers proved to be a far more fervent diffusionist. She hypothesized a trans-Pacific introduction of early ceramics to
South America, around the fifth millennium BCE, from the Japanese Middle Jōmon tradition
(Meggers 1987, 1992, 1997, 2005). From Uhle to Meggers, migration was used as an explanation for the professed likeness between the Olmec and Chavín styles of art, and the appearance of pottery on the Ecuadorian coast was interpreted as the consequence of transpacific travel (Politis 1999:5). Meggers‘s arguments have long been refuted by archaeological evidence.
In fact, most Valdivia experts would assert that early Valdivia ceramics were developed locally and derived from gourd vessels and basketry (Marcos 2003; Zeidler 2008).
On the Ecuadorian coast Emilio Estrada (1957) established a cultural sequence based on his fieldwork in the province of Manabí. This cultural sequence was later refined based on absolute chronologies developed in other areas of Western Ecuador, specifically the more intensely studied Guayas Province (Evans and Meggers 1961; Meggers 1966). In this order, three main developmental periods were delineated, with one internal subdivision: the Formative period, subdivided into the Early Formative period (3000 – 1500 BCE) and the Late Formative
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period (1500 – 500 BCE); the Regional Development period (500 BCE – 500 CE); and the
Integration period (500 -1500 CE) (Evans and Meggers 1961:149; Meggers 1966:25-26). Even though Meggers‘s chronological scheme has been widely criticized by many archaeologists who work in Ecuador (Bruhns 2007; Rowe 2014; Zeidler et al. 1998), it continues to influence the schematization of pre-Hispanic archaeology in Ecuador.
But the category of Formative period, defined by the emergence of ceramic production and agriculture, did not originate directly from the work of Evans and Meggers. Gordon Willey and Philip Phillips first adopted the term Formative in their 1958 publication and subsequently this classification was promoted by James S. Ford (1969) to refer to the archaeological period that encapsulates innovations such as plant and animal domestication, sedentism and pottery production in the Americas. Evidently, this suite of attributes is comparable to those that V.
Gordon Childe had defined as the foundation for the Early Neolithic in the Old World (Marcos
2003:7; Zeidler 2008:459). Ford (1969:9) also argued for a unitary model of Formative development in which Formative period elements, such as ceramic and maize agriculture, were
―diffused and welded into the socioeconomic life of the people living in the region extending from Peru to the eastern United States.‖ Although most credit for the exploration and pursuit of unitary diffusionist models has been given to James Ford, these approaches were first proposed by Herbert Spinden (1917, 1928) and also appear in some of the writings of Donald Lathrap
(Lathrap 1974, 1977, 1985, 1987; Lathrap et al. 1975). In the archaeology of the Ecuadorian
Formative, recent research has demonstrated that the professed Formative was neither, as James
Ford (1969) would put it, the product of diffusion from a single source nor the product of the
‗psychic unity of mankind‘ (Zeidler 2008:459). James Zeidler further observes that while
Formative societies have been interpreted through diffusionist models and, in recent years, as
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social transformations in discrete environmental contexts akin to specific historical processes,
―no simple unitary model of Formative development is now tenable… [T]he New World
Formative is currently viewed as anything but simple‖ (Zeidler 2008:460). Throughout the history of archaeology in South America diffusionism, along with the not so dissimilar evolutionary models, was not only central to archaeological practice, but also served to reproduce ―internal colonialism‖ (sensu Gnecco 2008), which is the interpretative approach that uses spatial and evolutionary comparisons to establish connections with civilized others from abroad to elevate the civilized others from within (Gnecco 2008:1106). Although in this dissertation the term ―Formative‖ has been used as shorthand for the chronological placement of
Potrero Mendieta, it is pertinent to emphasize that the body of archaeological work framed as the
Ecuadorian Formative is important for this research and will be discussed by region, from southern Ecuador to northern Peru.
The Southern Ecuadorian Highlands
In the southern Ecuadorian highlands, where Potrero Mendieta is located, the first wave of archaeological investigations began with Max Uhle (1922a), and was followed by the work of
Donald Collier and John Murra (1943), and Wendell Bennett (1946). From these research programs, Survey and Excavations in Southern Ecuador (1943) by Donald Collier and John V.
Murra has been the most influential treatise on the southern Ecuadorian highlands for the development and refinement of subsequent studies in the area. The surveys by Collier and Murra
(1943) brought to the attention of other researchers the biogeographic relevance of inter-Andean river basins in relation to the archaeological manifestations of the coast and the eastern lowlands.
Robert Braun (1982), in his ceramic analysis of the wares from Cerro Narrío in Cañar, which was first excavated by Collier and Murra (1943), proposed that the ecological boundaries between the eastern and western lowlands that were once considered barriers to population
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movement, were instead a conduit for population movement across diverse biogeographic regions. Braun noted that overland travel in these areas could be easily achieved by either crossing river basins that do not surpass the 3,000 m asl or navigating the southern Ecuadorian river systems (Braun 1982:43). These characteristics for inter-regional movement are manifest in the Cañar River inter-montane basin, which is one of the better-known archaeological areas in
Ecuador, mainly because of the presence of the Inca site of Ingapirca (Franch 1978; Fresco
1984). Here I will focus on the pre-Inca contexts, specifically the Formative site of Cerro
Narrío, which was first noted in academic publications in the early 1920s by Max Uhle. During
Max Uhle‘s archaeological explorations of the southern Ecuadorian highlands, he offered diffusionist interpretations for contexts such as Cerro Narrío, and Chaullabamba, which have long been rejected through later archaeological research (Oyuela-Caycedo et al. 2010: 359). But what is still notable about Uhle‘s work, beyond the issues that are relevant to the history of archaeological practice in the region, is that he endeavored to establish chronological sequences and introduced comparative approaches to ceramic analysis.
Prior to Uhle‘s arrival, and throughout the documented history of the area, the site of
Cerro Narrío has and continues to be a cultural referent and ancestral place to the contemporaneous Cañari societies. Oyuela-Caycedo and colleagues (2010:360) noted that the local population of Cañar has always been aware of the existence and archaeological significance of Cerro Narrío. In fact, for most places, it is safe to say that local populations were privy to this kind of knowledge prior to any validation provided by archaeologists. Uhle (1922b), Collier and
Murra (1943:35), Oyuela-Caycedo, Stahl and Raymond (2010), Raymond and Delgado (2009), and Zarrillo (2012) have remarked that the site has been disturbed and looted for at least more than a century. Oyuela-Caycedo and colleagues (2010) highlight the fact that Uhle‘s mentor,
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Alphons St bel (between 1871-1873), visited the region and collected objects such as copper bars, personal adornments made of gold, gold beads, red beads (made of Spondylus sp.), copper axes, ear spools, earrings and pectorals made of gold for the Ethnographic Museum in Leipzig
(St bel, eiss, Koppel and Uhle 1889; c.f. Oyuela-Caycedo et al. 2010:360). In a publication about early looting in the area, Frank Salomon (1987) commented on the looting practices that led to the site‘s state of destruction. One account indicates that a chief looter, who had experience digging tombs in the northern Andes, decided to concentrate his looting efforts on
Cañari cemeteries situated in mounds after an unsuccessful looting expedition around the
Ingapirca complex (Salomon 1987:213-223).
Although Uhle did not carry out excavations at Cerro Narrío, his explorations and observations of numerous materials that had been looted in the area served as a reference for the surveys by Donald Collier and John V. Murra (1943), which were sponsored by the Field
Museum of Chicago. Cerro Narrío, as described by Collier and Murra, is a steep-sided hill approximately 100 meters high, almost a kilometer west from the town of Cañar, at an elevation of 3,100 m asl (Collier and Murra 1943:35). At the time that Collier and Murra arrived, the hill already showed the ravages of years of looting. Over the course of a month Collier, Murra, and a crew of eight workers dug sixteen trenches and test pits in various sectors of the hill (Collier and
Murra 1943:35). Their excavations provided a relative chronology that was organized into two broad periods: Early Cerro Narrío and Late Cerro Narrío (Collier and Murra 1943:79-85). The absolute chronologies for these two periods have not been determined and a source of dispute among researchers (Braun 1982; Bruhns 1989, 2003; Bruhns et al. 1990; Lathrap et al. 1975;
Raymond and Delgado 2009). There is, however, a sample from unknown provenience that was recovered at Cerro Narrío that yielded a date of 2580-2200 cal. BCE (Burleigh et al. 1977).
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Also, Sonia Zarrillo, recovered three ceramic charred residue samples that yielded dates ranging from 900 to 550 cal BCE, one charcoal sample that returned a date of 780 - 410 cal. BCE, and a charcoal sample that yielded a date of 810 to 670 cal. BCE (Zarrillo 2012: 241-242).
Though they did not consider having enough archaeological evidence to support the occurrence of wide ranging inter-regional social interaction, Collier and Murra did not discount the possibility of the existence of exchange networks between Cerro Narrío and their contemporaneous counterparts in northern Peru, such as the Chimú (Collier and Murra 1943:66).
In their surveys north of Cañar, in the town of Alausí in the Chimborazo province, Collier and
Murra identified and described ceramic wares that had been extracted from a pit in the vicinity and then stored in a Salesian convent; some of the ceramic materials described from this collection present many similarities in form and style to those recovered from Cerro Narrío
(Collier and Murra 1943:23-25). Pedro Porras (1977) corroborated those observations in his surveys in the Alausí region in 1974. Likewise, following the survey and documentation of eighteen sites in the region of Cuenca, Wendell Bennett (1946) identified two ceramic styles analogous to the Cerro Narrío tradition: Monjashuaico and Huacarcuchu.
Among the plethora of ceramic, metal, bone, and shell artifacts excavated at Cerro
Narrío, there was a rather salient find in the upper levels of the excavation: two fragments of carbonized stingray spines (Collier and Murra 1943:68). Although it is impossible to be sure of this, these spines appear to come from a freshwater stingray, and the use of these spines as projectiles dipped in poison has been observed among indigenous peoples from the Río Upano
(northwest Amazon) (Wallace 1853:486; c.f. Collier and Murra 1943:69). At Cerro Narrío, the evidence of artifacts made from species that originated in the Eastern lowlands, in addition to the ubiquity of artifacts carved from Spondylus sp. from the Pacific, warrants the consideration of
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interregional interaction and agrees with Braun‘s (1982) proposition that inter-montane basins are corridors that facilitated the movement of people and their things. Furthermore, Braun
(1982), in his reassessment of the stratigraphy and seriation of Cerro Narrío in relationship to the materials recovered in Cuenca, Macas, the Guayas Basin, and from the Upper Huallaga and
Middle Ucayali regions of Peru, adopted a geographical proposition to support the hypothesis of a possible eastern origin for the early ceramics of the Pacific coast. He also proposed that early
Valdivia and Machalilla societies from the coast were in contact with Andean groups at Cerro
Narrío (Braun 1982).
In Collier and Murra‘s work the terminology attributed to coastal archaeological cultures is not used, notwithstanding that archaeological investigations in the southwestern Ecuadorian
Andes that have taken place in the last six decades use the broad temporal category Formative
(Table 2-1, after Zeidler 2008). Our limited understanding of the Formative societies in highland
Ecuador has been attributed to the presumption that human settlements are dispersed and small, and that the volcanic deposits overlying these contexts make discovery and excavation difficult
(Moore 2014:197). Despite the relative scarcity of long-term and extensive archaeological research in the southern Ecuadorian highlands that would contribute to the interpretation of the architecture and the spatial organization of sites (Bruhns 2010:686-687), the region has been declared by its researchers to represent a ―part of a single cultural sphere of ceramics, economy, and, as best as we can tell, settlement patterns‖ (Bruhns 2003:139).
Around the time of the publication of the Handbook of South American Indians (Steward, ed. 1946), it was widely accepted among the archaeological establishment that the origin of ceramic technology could be traced to the highlands. Wendell Bennett, one of the contributors to the handbook, further divided the Ecuadorian Andes into four sub-regions based on ethnohistory,
31
archaeology, linguistic affiliation, environment and geography: northernmost, northern, central and southern regions (Bennett 1946:72-74). From this sub-division, the southern highland territories that cover the provinces of Cañar, Azuay and Loja, were considered the cradle of ceramic technologies (Staller 2007:518-519). Subsequent archaeological investigations on the coast revealed that the ceramic technology associated with the cultural manifestation of Valdivia actually represents one of the earliest ceramic technologies in the Pacific coast, and predates the known ceramic production in the highlands (Bischof and Viteri 1972; Braun 1982; Damp and
Vargas 1995; Estrada 1956, 1957; Lathrap et al. 1975; Meggers et al. 1965; Staller 2007:520;
Zeidler 2003). Thus, in the past six decades, the southern Ecuadorian highlands have been characterized in a culture-history scheme that makes direct reference to the Formative chronology devised for the western Ecuadorian lowlands (Table 2-1). Regardless of how archaeologists have interpreted and systematized the ‗emergence‘ of technologies in these contexts based on artifacts, it is important to examine the strategic location of the southern highlands in the emergence of expansive exchange networks, particularly the corridors formed by the valleys of the Cañar River and the Jubones River. The case for an early emergence of technological inter-regional associations does not abide to diffusionist explanations that attribute preeminence of certain regional technological developments above others; instead it underlines the ‗complexity‘ of social processes in response to myriad historical circumstances.
Table 2-1. Formative Period Chronology for the Western Ecuadorian Lowlands (after Zeidler 2008:460). Cultural Sub-Period Range B.C. Manifestation Early Formative Valdivia 4400-1450 cal BCE Middle Formative Machalilla 1430-830 cal BCE Late Formative Chorrera 1300-300 cal BCE
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Although there is evidence of specialized industries from a few of the Formative contexts in southern Ecuador, most of these sites are small and it is probable that much of the population dwelt in dispersed settlements (Bennett 1946:14; Bruhns 2003:148-153; Bruhns 2010:685).
Bennett speculated that the dwellings associated with these early human occupations were built with perishable materials such as wood and thatched roofs (Bennett 1946:14). These statements assume both that structures of public or ceremonial character were built of more stable materials and that through time social formations became more stratified (Damp 1984; Raymond 2003;
Zeidler 1988).
In the southern highlands, the Late Formative site of Pirincay (ca. 1st millennium BCE), situated in the Paute valley, about 25 km due northeast of the city of Cuenca, presents evidence of diversified technological specialization, inter-regional interaction, and enduring architecture.
After preliminary investigations in the Paute Valley (Bruhns et al. 1990), Karen Olsen Bruhns,
James Burton and George Miller investigated the occupational history of this settlement located in the sector where the Paute River initiates its descent into the lowlands (Bruhns et al. 1990). At
Pirincay, the earliest architectural structure (the initial dates of occupation are in the 1500 to
1400 BCE range) consists of a platform made of stone and mud with a floor made of clay
(Bruhns 2010: 686). The structures located in the upper archaeological levels employed backfill and leveling of the pavement in the central sector of the site, which Bruhns describes as the structural foundation for a complex of small plazas (Bruhns 2010:686). The early plazas were paved with clay, but the later plazas were overlaid with a calcium carbonate mixture (CaCO3).
Bruhns (2010:686) maintains that the calcium carbonate found in these structures was one of the items involved in long-distance exchange networks. In the area around Pirincay there are several sources from which calcium carbonate was extracted for the pavement of these floors; however,
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there is no clear indication that the calcium carbonate (lime) was an exchange item as suggested by Bruhns (2003:150). Even though lime has been used since Valdivia times as an additive to chew coca leaves, the timing of the emergence of this tradition in the highlands has not been clearly established (Ontaneda and Espíndola 2003), and the inter-regional exchange of this otherwise ubiquitous compound (e.g. to use in coca-chewing) is difficult to validate. On the other hand, the ―altars‖ identified by Uhle (1922a:4-25) in Chaullabamba were overlain with white pavement, in a similar fashion as the flooring uncovered by Bruhns and colleagues in
Pirincay.
The workshops associated with the local production of quartz beads (Bruhns 2010:688) provide circumstantial evidence for the long-distance exchange of these beads with coastal social formations. At the Pirincay workshops, the production of white slate, chalcedony and serpentine beads clearly indicates the predominance of local technological practices (Bruhns et al. 1990;
Bruhns 2003, 2010); however, the inter-regional connections claimed by the researchers cannot solely be based upon the presence of similar beads in far-flung contexts, it needs to be corroborated with compositional analysis (e.g. petrography, NAA, XRF analysis) or more detailed stylistic/technological evaluations (e.g. operational sequence methods). Although
Bruhns and colleagues uncovered metal artifacts associated with the late phase of Pirincay (ca.
1st century AD), which include a silver-rich gold crucible, a gilded nose copper ornament in one of the three burials that were excavated, and a copper or bronze bar, they did not identify evidence of metallurgy workshops (Bruhns et al. 1990: 231-232). Some of the ceramic wares recovered at Pirincay bear resemblance to the satin-like Chorrera and the fine glossy black wares that are associated with types identified within the coastal cultural manifestation of Chorrera;
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also, a single sherd of incised red and yellow on black has stylistic similarities with northern
Chavín styles found in Piura (Bruhns 2003:163-165).
The prevalence of camelid remains in the assemblages associated with the later phases of occupation at Pirincay suggests that these domesticates replaced the consumption of wild taxa
(Bruhns et al. 1990:132). At Pirincay, these faunas were not exclusively used as sustenance, as evidenced by the charred remains of a sacrifice of a young llama, which were found in association with three ceramic vessels and carbonized maize (?) seeds. Bruhns and colleagues see this sacrificial context as a ―central Andean trait‖, which in turn supports their working hypothesis that Formative societies from southern Ecuador were included in a single interaction sphere associated with the final expansion of the Chavín societies from northern Peru (ca. sixth to second centuries BCE) (Bruhns et al. 1990:232).
The site of Putushío in the province of Loja has also yielded evidence of early metallurgy in the southern highlands. The site, first investigated by Mathilde Temme (1992), is in the upper section of one of the tributaries of the Jubones River, the Oña River. Putushío sits on a natural landform about 500 m high, 100 km due west from the coast known as ―Loma de Putushío.‖
Putushío‘s strategic location on a dry transversal valley might have also facilitated the access to the upper gold-bearing tributaries of the Amazon Basin (Rehren and Temme 1994:268).
Putushío was occupied from the Late Formative through the beginning of the sixteenth century
C.E., when the place was finally abandoned. Metallurgical activity, mainly gold smelting, intensified around 200 B.C.E. (Rehren and and Temme 1994), during a chronological window that has traditionally been classified as belonging to the Regional Development period. The ceramic evidence and the presence of remains of marine mollusks at Putushío have been interpreted as indicators of widespread and constant social interactions with coastal Ecuador and
35
northern Peru. Thilo Rehren and Mathilde Temme indicate that by the end of the Regional
Development period these contacts were extended to the north, probably all the way to what are known today as parts of southern Colombia, and likely east towards the Amazon basin (Rehren and Temme 1994: 270).
Two archaeological areas in the southern Andes were occupied throughout all the
Formative phases, Early, Middle and Late: Challuabamba, in the province of Azuay, and
Catamayo in the province of Loja. In the early part of the twentieth century Max Uhle kicked off the exploration of archaeological contexts north of the city of Cuenca. From these observations, specifically from the site of Chaullabamba, Uhle described the eponym ―Chaullabamba Horizon‖
(Uhle 1922a, 1922c, 1922d, 1936). The characteristic piles of river stones observed in
Chaullabamba (Uhle 1922a), some of them covered with red and yellow ochre, resembled the structures described by Collier and Murra (1943) from Cerro Narrío (Staller 2007: 522). Similar markers made of stone were identified at the site of Real Alto (Marcos 1978), and stones covered with ochre were also identified as funerary offerings in the Valdivia ceremonial center of La
Emerenciana by John Staller (Staller 2007: 522). At the burials of Chinguilanchi, in the Loja province, Uhle (1922a) observed a pattern resembling Cerro Narrío‘s internments. The burial offerings include anthropomorphic and zoomorphic representations made of human and animal bone, the mollusk Spondylus sp., and beads made of seashell or uyucuya, and green stones (Jijón y Caamaño 1952:147; Tellenbach 1998:Plate 35).
The Chaullabamba area is situated at about 2,300 m asl and enjoys a rather benign weather that is moderately rainy and cool. To reach the Pacific Ocean, the ancient inhabitants of
Chaullabamba would have had to cross a low pass toward the southwest to reach the Jubones
River that is the closest route to the coast. When Max Uhle visited Chaullabamba in the 1920s,
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the village was largely comprised by farmsteads on the southern bank of the Tomebamba River; presently, Chaullabamba lies under one of the sprawling suburbs of the city of Cuenca. Terence
Grieder (2009:1) notes that the modern bridge over the Tomebamba River is nowadays an important connection to a wide network of motorways leading to the northern and southern
Andes and to the eastern and western lowlands (Stahl 2005). Whereas this transportation infrastructure is a relatively recent construction, the web of inter-regional mobility that it enables follows ancient roads and river systems that encompass broad swathes of the land west of the mountains and finally unite and lead into a gorge through the eastern piedmont of the Andes towards the Amazon basin (Stahl 2005:316).
From the latest archaeological research project at Chaullabamba, Grieder and associates
(2009) identified four-phase ceramic components, based on five radiocarbon dates, spanning from the Early to the Late Formative: Period I (ca. 2000 – 1800 BC), which is contemporary with Phase 7 of the Valdivia sequence on the coast; Period II (ca. 1800 – 1600 BC); Period III
(ca. 1600 – 1400 BC); and Period 4 (ca. 1400 – 1200 BC). The chronological placement of
Chaullabamba closely compares with the four radiocarbon assays from Chaullabamba from the investigations by the British Museum that range between 1100 B.C. and 950 B.C. (Carmichael
1981:176). The radiocarbon dates on wood charcoal obtained by Grieder and colleagues yield dates between 2334 B.C. and 1340 B.C., and the AMS dates on bone obtained in the same project range between cal. 1260 B.C. and 815 B.C. (Grieder et al. 2009:21-22). The ceramic material culture identified at Challuabamba is related to the types described by Wendell Bennett
(1946: 20-40) from Huancarcuchu, specifically in two general forms: constricted-mouth bowls, and open bowls. The wares from Chaullabamba described by their slip color and method of firing include the types red-on-cream, red-and-black, burnished black/gray, and matte orange
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(Grieder et al. 2009: 27-32). The configuration of the incised designs bears resemblance to the
Valdivia coastal tradition; Grieder maintains that the simplicity of these designs vouches for their universality or perhaps are the result of hallucinations caused by psychoactive substances
(Grieder 1982; Stahl 1985, 1986; Grieder et al. 2009:62).
By the time Grieder started working at Chaullabamba there were no visible architectural features from the pre-Columbian settlement at Chaullabamba as the ones described by Uhle
(1922b), Collier and Murra (1943) and Bennett (1946), so the wall and floor patterns that were eventually excavated were identified through magnetometer and ground-penetrating radar (GPR) mapping. The excavation of these structures revealed clusters of waterworn boulders from the river. These structures are situated in an area high above the riverbank, which indicates that the builders transported these boulders. These rock clusters were bound together with bajareque
(mud plaster), similar to the quincha material described from Formative sites in northern Peru, some of which show marks from cord and wooden posts (Grieder et al. 2009:18-19). Max Uhle
(1922b: 207-208) described the structures that he identified at Chaullabamba, Huancarcuchu, and
Carmen as outlines of ancient buildings. Dominique Gomis reported the presence of house foundations made of river boulders and arranged in circular and square patterns, also with evidence of fragments of floors and fired clay (Idrovo Urigüen 1999:123). These large stone arrangements appear to have supported earthen platforms for buildings; in the most recent excavations by Grieder and coworkers (2009:19), small areas of clay floors were also identified.
The buildings from Chaullabamba bear some resemblance to structure II at the La Vega site, investigated by Jean Guffroy (1987: Plates 15, 16), in the Catamayo river Basin, except for the origin of the stone; the La Vega stones were quarried and the Chaullabamba stones were sourced from the riverbed (Grieder et al. 2009:20). At Chaullabamba, however, the researchers were
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only able to localize one posthole, in contrast with the many postholds identified by Villalba
(1988) at the Cotocollao site in the northern Ecuadorian highlands (Grieder et al. 2009:20).
In the Catamayo River Basin in the southern province of Loja, Jean Guffroy and colleagues developed one of the most productive archaeological research programs on a
Formative cultural manifestation in the Loja Province, where they identified a series of seven
Formative Period sites, Trapichillo, El Tingo 3, El Guayabal, Quebrada Los Cuyes 1, Quebrada
Los Cuyes 3, La Vega, and Pucara, which extend back into the early Formative (Guffroy 1987).
The four-phase sequence devised by Guffroy is organized as follows: Catamayo A (ca. 2000 –
1400 BC); Catamayo B (ca. 1200 – 900 BC); Catamayo C (ca. 900 – 500 BC); Catamayo D (ca.
500 – 300 BC).
The four Formative phases defined by Guffroy (1987) for the Catamayo valley have been manifested at the site of La Vega.). Structure 1 was discovered in one of the surveys performed during the 1981 season in La Vega. The construction of this structure is described as relatively simple; it consists of a wall of approximately 20 to 40 cm in height, composed of carved stones that are no larger than 30 cm in length, and glued together with a mortar made of gray clay. The wall divides a semi-circular structure that at the time of the excavations stood at approximately
40 to 50 cm in height and covers an eight-meter area. Guffroy (1987) suggests that this wall was never plastered. In the center of the structure, the researchers identified a circular area that measures 40 cm in diameter and is formed by hardened sediment of a different composition than the surrounding archaeological strata (Guffroy 1987:153-173). It is possible that this feature belongs to a central post (Guffroy 1987:153). The distance between this post and the wall is of less than three meters. Although there were no other traces of post molds identified during the
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excavations of La Vega, Guffroy and colleagues devised a reconstruction of the structure covered by a conical thatched roof (Guffroy 1987:155).
Structure II is described as larger and more complex than structure I. The excavation uncovered the preserved portion of a semi-circular wall formed with large stones that were placed vertically and cemented together with a mortar made of grayish clay. The exterior wall, which faces west, was covered with a mortar of similar quality, but finely polished. The preserved portion of this wall is of approximately 55 cm in height. On the eastern side of the structure there is a stone alignment about a meter long that is in a plane perpendicular to a double line of large rocks oriented on an East-West axis. These structures are about 20 cm in height and are separated from each other by a 40-cm void. The stones that form the interior portion of the structures are not joined together with mortar. At the west side of the structure II, there is a small platform made of clay with at least one pit dug therein (Guffroy 1987:180-181).
The Central and Southern Ecuadorian Coast
One of the oldest ceramic cultural traditions in the Americas is the Valdivia culture
(4400-1450 cal. BCE), which represents the beginnings of settled village life during the early
Formative on the central Ecuadorian coast. The archaeological evidence of Valdivia settlements was first recognized by Emilio Estrada (1956, 1958) in the identification of the type site (G-31) close to the estuary at the mouth of the Valdivia River on the Pacific seashore in the coastal
Guayas Province. Smithsonian Institution archaeologists Betty Meggers and Clifford Evans defined the Valdivia culture by their pottery style and the stylized anthropomorphic depictions dubbed as ―Venus figurines‖ (Zeidler 2008:461). Meggers and her associates were keen on explaining the existence of pottery-making societies on the basis of diffusion and migration (e.g. trans-pacific migration; c.f. Meggers 1987, 1992, 1997, 2005). At the other end of the interpretative spectrum, Donald Lathrap (1970:67) maintained that Valdivia encapsulates a
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―tropical forest culture‖ subsistence strategy that originated from the early population migrations from the Amazon basin and was dependent on inland riverine resources. At that time, the assertions made by Lathrap (1970) were a more sensible interpretation than the extreme diffusionism advocated by Meggers. Although the Tropical Forest template has been a productive premise in the archaeology of the coastal Formative, Karen Stothert (2003:343) cautions that suggesting the existence of a tropical forest-style shamanism, based upon the ethnographic known peoples of the neotropics, would be more suitable for archaeological interpretations if historical continuity between the Formative and present-day indigenous groups of the eastern lowlands could be established. Besides, because of the slower speeds of travel and therefore a more localized nature of communities in the past, there was surely a vaster variability in cultural practices than what we see today. This Amazonian/ Tropical Forest characterization, which has been based on ecological determinism and cultural evolution, has also been restrictive for archaeological interpretations in that, as Sarah owe (2014:131) comments, it ―[…] suggests a simple mapping of a widely shared (and uncontested) Amazonian mental template onto the coastal landscape.‖
The littoral location of the Valdivia sites and their obvious reliance on maritime and estuarine resources oriented the leading interpretations of these occupations as semi-sedentary; however, later research in coastal sites such as San Pablo, Real Alto and Salango, and at inland sites such as Loma Alta, Colimes, and San Lorenzo del Mate, has provided subsistence data that show a mixed subsistence economy that included horticultural production in the floodplains of maize, beans, root crops, cotton, chili peppers, and gourds (Pearsall 2003; Perry et al. 2007) in addition to the gathering of wild crops, shellfish, fishing and hunting (Zeidler 2008:462).
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The detailed stratigraphic excavations at the site of Real Alto have also changed our understandings of Valdivia society, revealing progressive shifts in population density, agricultural practices, funerary and ritual activity (Damp 1984, 1988; Lathrap et al. 1977; Marcos
2003; Zeidler 1984, 1991, 2008). The early Real Alto village was laid out in a U-shaped plan surrounded by dwellings of elliptical shape, which were identified by the presence of small post molds and daub fragments (Zeidler 1984). This U-shaped configuration shifted into an elliptical plan. With this shift in the village‘s plan, the house structures became larger, as they were probably built as extended family dwellings (Zeidler 1984). At the center of the elliptical plan there are two small opposing mounds. On one of them there was a funerary facility or ―charnel house‖ that yielded archaeological evidence of ritual activity from late Valdivia times (Zeidler
2008:464). The studies on skeletal biology at Real Alto by Douglas Ubelaker (2003) reveal a decline in health and life expectancy from the pre-ceramic to the Formative periods, in addition to a high incidence in bone trauma suggesting intergroup conflict, or even domestic violence
(Zeidler 2008:464). By the Middle Valdivia period (Phase 3), the settlements identified at the
Plata Island and Puná Island strongly indicate the development of watercraft suitable for open- sea voyaging, and, by phase 6/7, there was an expansion of Valdivia settlements due north, east, west, and south of the Gulf of Guayaquil (Zeidler 2008:464). By Terminal Valdivia times
(Phase 8), large ceremonial centers are found at inland locations such as the San Isidro site in the
Jama Valley in the northern part of Manabí (Piquigua Phase, 2030 – 1880 cal. BC) (Pearsall and
Zeidler 1994), and the La Emerenciana site in El Oro Province (Jelí Phase, 1850 -1650 cl BC)
(Staller 1991, 2001a).
The Machalilla culture represents the Middle Formative of coastal Ecuador and was first identified by Geoffrey Bushnell (1951) in the Santa Elena Peninsula, and designated by Emilio
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Estrada (1958) after the type-site of Machalilla on the southern Manabí coast. The spatial distribution of Machalilla sites extends along the coast from the Chone River in the central part of Manabí Province through the Punta Arenas Peninsula in the south of the Guayas Province.
There is also a discontinuous distribution of Machalilla archaeological contexts in northern
Manabí and the southern edge of the Esmeraldas province (Villalba et al. 2006, c.f. Zeidler
2008:466), and south of the Arenillas River in the El Oro Province (Staller 2001; Zeidler
2008:466). The chronological placement of Machalilla by Estrada (1958) describes this as a cultural tradition that emerged from Valdivia, specifically in terms of ceramic styles, which has been corroborated by the investigation at the sites of San Lorenzo de Mate, south of the Guayas
Province (Cruz and Holm 1982; Marcos 1989), and La Emerenciana in El Oro Province (Staller
1994, 2001a).
Several researchers have commented upon the relationships between the coastal
Machalilla components and the ceramic material culture identified in the highland sites of
Cotocollao in the province of Pichincha (Villalba 1988), Alausí in the province of Chimborazo
(Porras 1977), Cerro Narrío in the province of Cañar (Bruhns 1989), and Catamayo B in the province Loja (Guffroy 1987). These similarities, in terms of material culture (e.g. similarities in pottery assemblages, presence of marine mollusks, obsidian and other highland stones), suggest long-distance trade relations. The coastal Machalilla settlements show no evidence of having been large ceremonial centers or of having had mound building; the sites are generally found on higher grounds immediately adjacent to riverine floodplains (Lippi 1983; Schwarz and Raymond
1996) or in the littoral region looking over the sea.
The Chorrera culture represents the Late Formative of coastal Ecuador in the Guayas
River basin and was described after the type-site of La Chorrera (R-B-1), located by the
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Babahoyo River (Evans and Meggers 1957 and on the Guayas coast at the site of La Carolina
(OGSE-46D or Engoroy Cemetery) in the Santa Elena Peninsula (Bushnell 1951). Chorrera is the most extensive of the archaeological pre-Hispanic cultures identified in Ecuador, for which it has been argued that Chorrera represents a true ―cultural horizon‖ expressed by a consistent style in ceramic manufacture encompassing the coastal lowlands and the Andean highlands. It has also been suggested that the regional variation during Chorrera times should be understood as independent Late Formative regional expressions (Zeidler 2008:468).
Those variants have been defined archaeologically. The northern variants consist of the
Mafa phase in the Esmeraldas Province, the Tachina phase in southern Esmeraldas Province, and the Tabuchila Phase in northern Manabí Province (Cummins 2003; Engwall 1992, 1995 [c.f.
Zeidler 2008:470]; Pearsall 2003, 2004; Stahl 2003; Zeidler and Sutliff 1994). From the central to the southern Ecuadorian coast the variants include the Engoroy Phase on the Santa Elena
Peninsula and the Guayas coast (Lunniss 2001), ―Chorrera Proper‖ located in central and southern Manabí and in the Guayas basin, the site of Putushío in Azuay Province and the
Arenillas Phase in El Oro Province (Zeidler 2008: 468). In the highlands Chorrera influences have been identified in the Late Cotocollao Phase in the Quito basin, Early Narrío Phase at the sites of Cerro Narrío, Pirincay and Challuabamba in Azuay and Cañar provinces, and Catamayo
Phase C in Loja Province. The stylistic unity that has been claimed for these Late Formative cultural expressions has been mostly emphasized in terms of ceramic manufacture, represented by zoomorphic and phytomorphic effigy bottles with whistling spout-and-strap handle, and in the large mold-made anthropomorphic figurines (Beckwith 1996; Cummins 2003; Staller 2001a,
2001b).
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The survey in the Jama Valley of northern Manabí Province by Zeidler and associates
(Pearsall and Zeidler 1994; Zeidler and Isaacson 2003) resulted in the identification of the
Chorrera Tabuchila Phase (ca. 3000-2050 BP). The Tabuchila phase presents the most interesting shift in settlement expansion pattern at the Jama Valley. According to the researchers the settlement of the Jama Valley was made possible as a result of valley ―in-filling‖ of the major alluvial pockets on the main Jama River channel. This inland settlement may also indicate a shift to the agricultural practice of long-fallow swiddening on the upland terrain (Pearsall 2004;
Pearsall and Zeidler 1994). The variation in the ceramic tradition of Tabuchila has been interpreted by Corey Hermann as a manifestation of ―deeper processes of emergent social complexity and early attempts at establishing inequality‖ (Hermann 2016: ii,148-162). Chorrera societies located in the equatorial latitude were radically transformed by the eruption of the
Pululahua volcano around 467 BC, whose ash fall blanketed a large portion of the western
Ecuadorian lowlands from southern Esmeraldas Province, through Manabí and the upper Guayas basin (Zeidler and Isaacson 2003).
In the El Oro-Tumbes Region, on the Ecuadorian side of the border, during the 1980s
Patricia Netherly identified eleven Early/Middle Formative Period sites (Staller 1994). Three of these sites are over 10 hectares in size, which is quite uncommon in the region during this period.
The largest of these sites is La Emerenciana (2200 BC and 1850–1650 BC), located 2 km south of the active shoreline along the Buenavista River. The site is over 12 hectares in size and comprises two platform mounds overlain with wattle-and-daub on top of which there possibly were built structures (Staller 1994, 2000, 2001b). The four burials that were uncovered at the first platform were wrapped in cloth and placed in a flexed upright position in pits filled with midden deposits with few to no burial goods (Staller 2001). John Staller (1994) proposes that
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the prominence of this region was not only attained by the successful reliance on marine and agricultural resources, but also by the central-pattern of ceremonial centers associated with habitational sites, which in turn suggest a non-egalitarian social organization (Staller 1994).
In the northern Peruvian-Ecuadorian border, at the coastal department of Tumbes in Peru,
Jerry Moore (2010) uncovered evidence of Archaic and early Formative village life in the sites of El Porvenir and Santa Rosa. At an inland settlement in El Porvenir, on the Peruvian side of the Zarumilla River, the remains of a circular pole-and-thatch house dating 4700 – 4300 BC, measuring approximately 18 m2, indicates a permanent occupation that dated back to the Archaic
(Moore 2010). The Santa Rosa site (3500 and 2900 cal. BC) offers evidence for the use and consumption of squash, as well as hunting of deer and fishing, however there is no clear evidence of agriculture and pottery production (Moore 2008, 2010). The funerary activities at
Santa Rosa have been uncovered at one of the clay-lined basins measuring two meters across
(Moore 2010). Here, Moore and colleagues found scattered and burnt human skeletal fragments from what appears to have been a funerary rite in which the bones were collected and placed in low cairns of stones along with offers made of spondylus shell, after the flesh was consumed by the fire (Moore 2010). At the excavations of the site of Uña de Gato (2200 – 800 BC), Moore and colleagues identified the remains of substantial domestic and public architecture, which corroborate that there was a clear shift from the construction of elliptical structures to rectangular structures during the Late Formative at Uña de Gato. From the four mounds identified at Uña de
Gato, Mound I was increasingly built up throughout the occupation; it started up as a small stepped platform that was expanded and remodeled (Moore 2010; Moore 2014:194-196). Moore
(2008) has interpreted this evidence as the earliest example of human architecture associated with sedentary village life in northern South America.
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The Northern Ecuadorian Andes
One of the most remarkable Formative archaeological remains in the northern highlands is Cotocollao. This large village site, located nearby the city of Quito, was investigated by
Marcelo Villalba (1988). These investigations revealed domestic architecture that comprised rectangular dwellings with interior hearths and storage features, ceramic wares that have been associated with Machalilla and Chorrera traditions, lithic toolkits made of obsidian, a variety of ground and pecked stone tools, and ground stone bowls made of andesite and serpentine that were interpreted as ceremonial vessels (Villalba 1988). Since there is no evidence of public architecture, ritual activities were probably centered on funerary contexts (Villalba 1988:108).
At Cotocollao, subsistence was largely based on the cultivation of the highland crops maize, chochos, beans, achira, oca, potato and quinoa (Villalba 1988; Pearsall 2003) and complemented with animal proteins that include white-tailed deer, rabbit, dove, parrot, weasel, guinea pig, and paca (Villalba 1988; Stahl 2003).
It has been maintained that in the northern highlands it would be difficult to point out significant similarities among sites based solely on their ceramic assemblages. This is the case at sites such as La Chimba, in the province of Imbabura at 55 km northeast of Quito (Athens 1995) and Cotocollao (Athens 1995; Lippi 2003:532; Villalba 1988). At La Chimba, there is well- defined material evidence for interregional interaction with groups from other highland locales and the western and eastern lowlands. This evidence includes marine shell (Spondylus sp. and
Strombus sp.), coastal Chorrera ceramics, Cosanga ceramics from the Amazon Basin, and obsidian from the Mullumica source located in the Quito basin; also, the figurine iconography has suggested the consumption of coca, a product imported from the eastern lowlands (Athens
1995; Zeidler 2008:472). In the central highlands, the sites of Loma Pucara and El Tingo in
Chimborazo (Arellano 1999) present some affinities in their ceramic assemblages. For example,
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in both contexts contain thin ―eggshell‖ bowls and ollas as well as other heavier ceramic forms and burnished black-wares (Bruhns 2003: 139-140).
The Amazonian Piedmont
Archaeological investigations in the Amazonian region, from the upper forest in the piedmonts of the eastern Andean cordillera to the lower forest in the Amazon basin, have a relatively brief history in contrast to the research programs developed in the coastal areas and in the highlands. The investigations in southern Ecuadorian and northern Peruvian Amazonia have generally supported the premise held by both Julio César Tello (1942, 1960) and Donald Lathrap
(1970), that Andean civilizations originated in the eastern lowlands and that the cultural achievements reached in Amazonia contributed to the successful resource exploitation strategies elsewhere and expanded inter-regional exchange (Valdez 2007:552). These ideas were initially explored in the early part of the twentieth century when Julio Tello identified the coastal site of
Chavín de Huántar, located in the present-day Ancash region of Peru at the headwaters of the
Marañon river between the coast and the jungle. Several researchers have proposed that many of the iconographic designs recorded at archaeological sites on the coast and in the Andes index imagery of Amazonian plants and animals such as the harpy eagle (Harpia harpyja), caiman
(Caiman sp.) and jaguar (Panthera onca) (Burger 1992; Lathrap 1970; Tello 1960).
From the investigations by Pedro Porras on the Huasaga River in the province of Morona
Santiago (Porras 1975), followed by the work of Stephen Athens (1986) at the site of
Pumpuentsa on the Macuma River, the interstitial region between the Andes and the Lower
Amazon known as ―ceja de montaña,‖ or cloud-forest, has yielded significant archaeological evidence of human occupations during the Formative. Among the sites in the piedmont of the
Cordillera Oriental that were investigated by Porras (1978), located at around 800 m asl, is
Cueva de los Tayos (cave of the oil birds, Seatornis sp.). This cave, situated on the southern
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edge of the province of Zamora Chinchipe yielded material evidence of a disturbed burial context that comprised offerings of four spondylus valves, over forty carved pendants made of mother-of-pearl (Pinctata mazatlantica), and beads made from the marine mollusk Conus sp.
Among the ceramics identified in the Cueva de los Tayos context there are fragments of a stirrup-spout bottle with an anthropomorphic head modeled in the short tube spout (Porras 1978).
Both Porras (1978) and Lathrap (1970) noted the resemblance of the stylistic motifs found in these pieces of Upper Amazonian pottery with those of the Middle and Late Formative traditions of the eastern Andes. In his interpretations of the archaeological evidence of early settlements situated in the piedmont of the eastern Andean cordillera, specifically in the basin of the Mayo and Chinchipe rivers, Francisco Valdez (2013) has also emphasized the material expressions of a transmission of Amazonian cosmology into the Andean region through inter-regional interaction.
The Mayo and Chinchipe rivers originate in the eastern watershed of the Andes, in
Zamora Chinchipe, Ecuador, and continue their course onto the highland jungle towards the town of Bagua, in the department of Cajamarca, Peru, where they disembogue into the Marañon
River, the principal source of the Amazon River. The portion of the basin located within the modern Ecuadorian political borders has been studied since the early 2000s by a French-
Ecuadorian team formed by the Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), or Institute for the Investigation of Development, and the Instituto Nacional de Patrimonio Cultural (INPC), or the National Institute of Cultural Patrimony. The preliminary investigations by a team lead by
IRD archaeologists, Jean Guffroy and Francisco Valdez, focused on the identification of archaeological sites in the eastern cloud forest of Zamora Chinchipe. Archaeologically speaking, cloud forests are intriguing biogeographic regions for the identification of past human activity.
These mosaic environments are characterized by ecotones that transition throughout different
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altitudes. And thus, through surveying different biomes at different elevations, the archaeologists identified over 500 sites that have been associated with the later Bracamoro societies (ca. 1000 – 1500 C.E.) who are known to have produced corrugated ceramics (Guffroy
2008). At the highest elevations, in the localities of Valladolid, Palanda, San Francisco del
Vergel and the lower Isimanchi River basin, there is evidence of older archaeological vestiges associated with thin-walled ceramic vessels; this Upper Amazon Formative cultural manifestation was labeled as the Mayo-Chinchipe-Marañon Culture (Valdez et al. 2005).
Francisco Valdez and colleagues systematically investigated one of the early occupations situated in the eastern slopes of the Andes, the site of Santa Ana-La Florida (ca. 3000 to 200
BCE). The archaeological evidence from Santa Ana-La Florida (SALF) comprises a collection of public architecture, aesthetically remarkable ceramic production, skillful crafting of other materials, and paleoethnobotanical data that reveals the early utilization of historically valuable plants, from cacao (Theobroma sp.) to coca (Erythroxylum sp.) (Valdez 2007, 2008, 2013;
Valdez et al. 2005). Although the assemblages associated with the Mayo-Chinchipe-Marañon culture from the site Santa Ana-La Florida are coeval with the Valdivia components from the coastal site of Real Alto, there is no stylistic correspondence between these two traditions.
Santa Ana-La Florida is an architectural complex adjoined by a cobble-line walkway that frames a plaza with paved rectangular floors. The plaza is surrounded by ten to fifteen circular structures that may be directly associated with the ceremonial portion of the site. The ceremonial sector of the site, as defined by Valdez (2013), consists of spiraling stonewalls that coil into a hearth. The excavations of the sector surrounding the hearth uncovered a collection of funerary offerings dedicated to two individuals that include greenstone beads, pendants, beads, a fine ceramic vessel, and a bi-partite placement of the conch shell (Strombus sp.) where each valve
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was allocated in association with an individual (Valdez 2007, 2008, 2013; Valdez et al. 2005).
Jean Guffroy (2008: 892) remarks that the evidence of coca-leaf chewing in the stirrup-spout bottles excavated from Santa Ana-La Florida predates the use of this plant in the Peruvian highlands of Pacobamba, on the northern coast at Cupisnique (Burger 1984), as well as the use of coca among Chavín societies (Burger 2008). The later evidence for the consumption of coca leaves from other Formative contexts, such as the coastal Machalilla sites, and the Andean sites of Cotocollao and La Chimba, has been mainly inferred through figurine iconography (Athens
1995; Villalba 1988). Valdez (2007, 2008, 2013) and Guffroy (2008:892-893) have commented extensively on the rich iconography represented in the material culture from Santa Ana-La
Florida, and offer reasonable comparisons between the material identified at SALF with the avian and snake depictions found in the textiles from site of Huaca Prieta (Bird 1948; Pozorski and Pozorski 2008) and La Galgada in Peru (Burger 1992; Grieder et al. 1988).
Archaeological investigations in the Mayo-Chinchipe expanse situated within the modern
Peruvian political border have been ongoing since the 1970s. During the 1970s and 1980s, archaeologists Ruth Shady and Hermilio Rosas La Noire (1979) investigated the area of Bagua in the Amazonas region. From the Bagua project, Shady (1971) produced a cultural sequence for the region in which she established the regional relationships between the archaeological sites from the Pacific coast, the Andes and the eastern lowlands. In her later work, Shady (1999) defined the relationships between the materials identified in Bagua and indicated the stylistic similarities between Bagua I and La Peca and with other ceremonial centers such as Pacopamba and Kunturwasi, from the Middle and Late Formative, respectively. Shady estimates that during the El Salado de Bagua phase (ca. 400-200 B.C.E.), the region was fully engaged in the Chavín interaction sphere, and that the effects and influence of this larger interaction network in places
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as far as the northern highlands of Ecuador and the southern highlands of Peru can be identified archaeologically in the Upper Amazon (Shady 1987, 1999).
In the lower valleys of the rivers Utcubamba and Chinchipe, Quirino Olivera (1998) uncovered artifactual and architectonic archaeological evidence that indicate a close relationship between the social formations of the Peruvian Upper Amazon with the Formative cultures of
Ecuador, specifically with the material renderings from the early Formative site of Santa Ana-La
Florida. In terms of biogeography, the territory of the Bagua and Jaén provinces in Peru encompass semi-xerophytic environments that transition into typical rainforest biomes. The semi-xerophytic contexts have proven to be rather advantageous for the preservation of archaeological sites.
Among the sites investigated by Olivera (2014), the occupations at San Isidro (1410-1450
B.C.E), Montegrande (ca. 510-390 B.C.E.) and Causal (A.D. 50-70) span a pre-Hispanic human presence from at least the Middle through the Terminal Formative (Olivera 2014: 195-196). At
Montegrande, Olivera and his team excavated what appeared to be a natural mound of approximately 16 meters in diameter. These excavations revealed a group of platforms and architecture that were probably built during the late pre-ceramic period. The alignment of the rocks placed inside this circular structure followed a concentric and spiral orientation. The skeletal remains of a male individual facing east were identified on the southeast side of the enclosure, immediately under the circular wall. The only burial offerings associated with this interment are two perforated human teeth, which may have been part of a necklace (Olivera
2014:88, 96-97). Although it appears that the deceased individual was buried before the construction of the circular structure, Olivera (2014) interprets the placement of these human remains, and the mixture of ash and loose dirt placed at the center of the structure, as offerings
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placed prior to a ritual architectural event associated with the last construction phase of this edifice (Olivera 2014:88). Between the walls that form the spiral configuration of the structure, the excavators uncovered the burial of a male individual placed in a flexed position (Olivera
2004:96, 99). At the north site of the Montegrande spiral structure, three children/infant burials were identified along with their corresponding funerary offerings. These skeletal elements were highly fragmented and commingled. It appears that they were arranged in a bundle held together with mud, a configuration that can be interpreted as secondary burials. One of the children was buried with a copper needle, whereas the other burial was enclosed with aligned pebbles and associated with a few ceramic fragments (Olivera 2014:94). The researchers of Montegrande presume that the monumental enclosure was constructed and occupied during the Pre-Ceramic period and that the ceramic sherds associated with the burials represent disturbances from later periods. Three of the complete ceramic pots and some sherds documented from the burials and the backfilling event at Montegrande share similar forms and styles with those associated with the Valdivia cultural manifestation from coastal Ecuador. According to Olivera, these ceramic wares are not associated with the architecture and were likely deposited there when the structure was sealed right before it was abandoned, or were presented as offerings at later times (Olivera
2014:98-107).
The site of San Isidro is an archaeological mound located at 1.67 kilometers from
Montegrande. The excavations at San Isidro revealed two floors paved with stone rubble, ashes, and burnt soil and, located underneath these floors, a semi-circular stone structure that predates the material above it. Olivera (2014:116) suggested that the structures that predate the placement of the floors were constantly renewed by the ritual of fire. At the summit of the mound, archaeological excavations revealed enclosed rectangular structures that fence a group of burials
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associated with ceramic fragments, bird bones, guinea pig bones, land snails and objects made with spondylus shell from the Pacific coast (Olivera 2014:116). These enclosures were backfilled before abandonment; the backfilled matrix included ceramic fragments, human skeletal remains and soil mixed with ash. In one of these enclosures the archaeologists identified ash and tramped yellow clay, a mortar and a stone axe, as well as plaster fragments with visible marks of having been placed over a cane or bamboo-like structure (Olivera 2014:120). During the excavations, the researchers identified a total of 22 funerary contexts situated on top of the mound. The individuals buried within these structures included newborns, infants, young children and adolescents. Macaw bones (Ara macaw) have been uncovered from the vicinity of these burials; however, there is no clear association between these assemblages and the human funerary contexts (Olivera 2014:126-141).
The ceramic wares found at the San Isidro site only appear in the backfill layers and in association with the burials at the top of the mound. Considering that the only complete vessels were identified in association with burials 21 and 22, the remains of elaborately sculptured bottlenecks and carved polychrome pottery styles seem to have been expressly placed as burial offerings (Olivera 2014: 144). These ceramic fragments and whole vessels, characterized by their uniform temper paste and well-achieved firing, are decorated with exquisite depictions of abstract human and feline motifs, equidistant etched lines and geometric forms (Olivera 2014:
142-153).
The excavations at the archaeological mound in Causal, situated in the Bagua region, uncovered walls made of quincha (mud with crushed cane) and plastered with a layer of a fine clay paste. Some segments of the walls were painted in white, red, yellow and black (Olivera
2014:162-167). The funerary contexts investigated at Causal include two ceramic urns that
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contained human remains (Olivera 2014:170). From later archaeological contexts, human burials inside urns have been considered part of a Tropical Forest tradition, such as the funerary assemblages identified around the delta of the Amazon River from the Marajoara phase (ca. A.D.
800 -1400) (Barreto 2008; Roosevelt 1991).
The Social Emergence of the Physical World
The history of the non-anthropogenic Jubones River Basin has been tightly linked to the various human historical processes in the region. Practices associated with subsistence and economics in the region are largely concentrated on agriculture and the exploitation of mineral resources. Not surprisingly, the physical landscape of the basin has also been integrated into social life through practices that are not solely relegated to subsistence and economics; for instance, landforms have also been considered points of reference for travelling, land parceling, and sources of memory. One of our friends and informants in the village of Chilcaplaya, Doña
Matilde Serrano, told us about a large flat stone on which, a couple of decades ago, she and other farmers used to dry the coffee beans that they harvested. She recalled that this large stone was covered with myriad engravings, some that were parallel lines, some that were curving dotted lines, and that were spiral-shaped and resembled large snails. Doña Matilde spoke fondly of her youth, when she worked as an itinerant crofter at various farmsteads throughout the year. And, despite the hardships associated with farming, she was nostalgic about the places that she can no longer visit such as the table-like rock in the hamlet of Lacay, on the other side of the river.
Lacay is located directly across from Chilcaplaya and remains relatively accessible by way of a bridge that was built by a Spanish company during the 1970s, as we were told by Don
Honorio Ordoñez, a Lacay resident. I do not have any other source of verification on when exactly and by whom this bridge was built, but it clearly made a difference in the lives of the children who had to cross the river to attend school; as far as I understand the elementary school
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in Lacay proper was built recently. Don Honorio showed us the large stone described by Doña
Matilde, which coincidentally sits by the land that he donated for the construction of the school.
This granodioritic boulder lies flat on a promontory, forming a platform that is no more than two meters in height from the ground and over ten meters in length. Germania, Don Honorio‘s teenage daughter, helped us with the tracing of the petroglyphs, some of which were hard to see because of the weathering of the stone and our untrained eye (Figure 2-1; 2-2).
Figure 2-1. Lacay flat stone (Photo by Jacob Lawson).
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Figure 2-2. Germania Ordoñez guiding the tracing of the carvings (Photo by Jacob Lawson).
In the village of Sarayunga, located east of Chilcaplaya, we were shown another collection of petroglyphs that were also carved in granodiorite boulders (Figure 2-3). Most of these carved boulders are located on the farm of Mr. Edgar Saritama. We photographed some of engravings with the help of the children who live nearby, but alas, when we returned the following day, Mr. Saritama asked us for a fee to document the stones on his property. Because of this and other uncomfortable interactions, we chose not to stay in Sarayunga.
At our home-base in Uzhcurrumi, we were also informed about the existence of a large boulder with engravings of spirals, faces and serpents; sadly, the boulder was dynamited by a landowner who was none too keen on the idea of local tourism or any sort of meddling in and around her farm. We never saw the boulder, or what remained of it, and did not have the opportunity to interview the person who was blamed for its destruction.
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Figure 2-3. A sun shaped carving, probably done by pecking on the granodiorite outcrops at Mr. Saritama‘s farm (Photo by Jacob Lawson).
The numerous carved stones located throughout the geological complex south of the
Jubones River Basin have already been identified and documented by vocational archaeologists and historians (Murillo Carrión 2011), as well as by pseudo-researchers who have put forth a variety of questionable surmises about their use and significance, such as the proposition that these engravings were done by extraterrestrial beings (Domínguez 2015). Enlarged photographs of the carved boulders are frequently found on billboards by the side of the road that borders the
Jubones and along the entrances to the villages that advertise the glyphs as touristic attractions.
In one of our first visits, we were asked if we were in any way associated with a group of New
Age esoterics who had been walking around the river banks looking for carved boulders. These ongoing engagements with the anthropogenic and physical world are not only prompted by the quotidian connections between the present-day Jubones Basin inhabitants with their place and by
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archaeological or other scientific pursuits, but also by the locals‘ current aspirations to develop a tourism economy and by the non-locals‘ interests in alternative mysticisms and/or in extra- terrestrial and paranormal activities. Setting aside any critical assessment of these pursuits, it must be recognized that these engagements are associated with the physicality of the historical landscape and are part of the constantly emergent, mutually constituted character of the social and natural histories in the region. The temporal dimensions in which practices such as admiring a carved stone, events such as blowing up a stone with dynamite, and unpredictable conditions such as charging researchers a fee to document the engraved stones at one‘s farm, are integrated in the emergence of the present condition.
The Physical World in Time
The first documented descriptions of the Jubones River Basin, in the form of travelogues or scientific annotations (e.g. Arias Dávila 1897 [1582]; Caldas 1912; Verneau and Rivet 1912) require a wider contextualization in terms of the biogeographical surroundings of the Jubones.
With respect to the archaeology of the region, it is important to note that the southeastern territories, directly south from the Jubones headwaters, are xerophytic. This might have been advantageous for the preservation of archaeological remains through millennia, as we have seen in the reports by Caldas (1912), Wolf (1892), and Verneau and Rivet (1912). Despite being sparsely populated because of the aridity of the soil, the archaeological evidence reported in the last two hundred years is undetectable by simple observation. This might be the result of many decades of looting.
With respect to the biogeography of the Jubones basin, specifically of the central and western zones where the Jubones is at its largest course, it is essential to recognize the variability in climatic regimes and ecosystems of this inter-Andean corridor in relation to three large
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ecological regions: Costa (coastal or western lowlands), Sierra (Andean highlands), and Oriente
(eastern lowlands leading to Amazonia).
The western lowlands encompass an ecologically disaggregated region. The northern and southern littoral are fringed by the rapidly disappearing mangrove forests, except for the moderately arid Santa Elena Peninsula, which is edged by dramatic tablazo formations (uplifted
Pleistocene marine floors). Not surprisingly, the rich sequence of cultural developments for which Ecuadorian archaeology is mostly known, took place in this inviting and attractive setting on the Pacific coast. Towards the east, the hilly flanks of the western Andean piedmonts gradually rise and cut across the coastal plains that some time ago – before urban development and large-scale monoculture – were covered by dense tropical forests. The Andean highlands, characterized by their high peaks and volcanoes, are also formed by transversal cordilleras, known as nudos (en. knots), which form enclosed valleys of various elevations or hoyas (en. depression surrounded by mountains). These vertical landscapes undergo, within short distances, different atmospheric pressures and changes in air temperature and humidity, which in turn result in a biogeographic mosaic.
The easternmost edge of the Andes is characterized by the steep slopes of the eastern cordillera that drop into a biogeographic region known as the ―cloud forest.‖ It is not uncommon to be blinded by the dense clouds that cover the ecotone that leads to the tropical forest region that Donald Lathrap (1970) described as The Upper Amazon. From here on, as the elevation decreases towards the lower piedmonts, from 3,000 m asl to 500 m asl, the changes in temperature and the rapid increase in humidity are tangible. This biogeographical mosaic that characterizes the inter-Andean Jubones River does not differ greatly from the ecological patchwork characteristic of the eastern and western tropical forested piedmonts of the Andes.
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Like the eastern cloud forest or ceja de montaña (en. mountain brow), the Jubones River Basin encapsulates, in a relatively small geographic region, a dramatic environmental variation correlated to changes in elevation.
In the Jubones River Basin, whereas the low elevation area can be described as a tropical forested environment, the areas located in the rain shadow present semi-arid to arid conditions
(Vanacker et al. 2003), particularly at the headwaters of the Jubones, on the watershed of the rivers León and Rircay. The coldest ecological zone is located at ~ 2,800 – 3,600 m asl; the towns of Pucará in the northern side of the river, and Guanazán in the southern side are located at this elevation. This zone presents a gradual shift between the inter-Andean temperate forest vegetation and the páramo (en. moorlands). The annual average temperature varies between 6° -
12°C. The vertical extent of páramo is from 3,300 to 3,500 m asl. At this elevation, the air temperature is relatively cold, and the weather is overcast and damp. Approximately 1,500 millimeters of precipitation falls annually on the upper slopes of the eastern cordillera, and between 2,500 to 3,000 millimeters on the western cordillera. The landscape of the páramo is characterized by rolling slopes covered with dense clumps of coarse grasses. This environment supports the cultivation of Andean tubers and protein-rich quinoa (Salomon 1986:36-38).
As elevation decreases, at approximately at 1,200 – 2,800 m asl, the páramo transitions into an ecological zone that in the Jubones is associated with the villages of San Rafael on the northern side of the river, and Abañín on the southern side (Figure 2-4). This zone is characterized by an evergreen montane forest, registers annual average temperatures of 12°–
18°C, and receives between 1,000 and 2,000 millimeters of precipitation per year. Since pre-
Columbian times these environs have been optimal for the cultivation of maize, however it should not be assumed that the current vegetation cover and general land use resemble that in
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antiquity, particularly since extensive agriculture has displaced what was previously a forested climax ecosystem (Salomon 1986:39).
The easternmost portion of the Jubones is associated with the catchment of Santa Isabel, a region of reduced rainfall on the lee side of the Southern Ecuadorian Andes. Here the climatic regime fluctuates from semi-arid to arid. The mean annual precipitation increases with elevation from 250 to 500 mm. In the Santa Isabel area, the elevation increases from approximately 800 m asl at the catchment outlet, to about 2000 m asl at the drainage divide (Vannacker et al. 2003:
331). This precipitation pattern is like the coastal mono-modal regime and registers its highest intensity from the months of January to April (Bossuyt et al. 1997). The mean annual air temperature registered between 1967 and 1990 was 19 °C at Santa Isabel (1550 m asl) and 21°C at Minas de Huascachaca (1040 m asl) (Bacuilima et al. 1999).
Figure 2-4. Mr. Luis Pesántez, member of the village council of San Rafael (~ 1800 m asl). (Photo by Jacob Lawson).
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In the western portion of the Jubones course towards the Pacific, one can appreciate how the extremely broken and steep terrain on the mountain faces morphs into rounded foothills that gradually meld into the littoral plain. This area is characterized by tropical forest vegetation.
The western portion of the Jubones is as rainy, and even warmer, as the eastern ‗cloud forest,‘ with annual average temperatures between 18° and 24°C (Salomon 1986:42). The southern bank of the Jubones River Basin, surrounding the village of Uzhcurrumi and the smaller sub-basins of
Chillayacu, Quera and Casacay, forms an uneven terrain with dramatic changes of elevation from 300 to 1,200 m asl. The site Potrero Mendieta is situated in what can be described as part of the Chillayacu sub-basin, directly north of the Chillayacu River.
The sub-basin of the Chillayacu River has two climatic regimes: The páramo, which covers the southern extents of the sub-basin towards the Cordillera of Chilla, and the tropical sub-humid to humid, which comprises the southern banks of the Jubones and the western floodplains. In páramo environments (~ 3,000 m asl), where elevation and exposure are the factors that influence air temperature and precipitation patterns, the maximal temperatures surpass 20° C and the minimal temperatures can drop to values below 0 °C. The annual median temperatures fluctuate between 4 and 8 °C. The annual precipitation is 800 - 2000 mm, and most of the showers are characterized for their long duration and low intensity. The relative humidity is always above 80 %. As the elevation increases, shrubs and a thick vegetation blanket saturated with water gradually replace the vegetation associated with the lower ecological zones
(Pourrut 2005:23).
Below 3,000 m asl, the Chillayacu sub-basin is preponderantly a tropical semi-humid to humid zone. The median annual temperatures are between 12 and 20° C, although they can occasionally be lower in the areas surrounding the streams that are less exposed to the sun. The
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lowest temperatures rarely drop below 0° C, and the highest temperatures do not tend to increase above 30 °C. Depending upon the elevation and the exposure, the relative humidity falls between 65% and 85%. The annual precipitation patterns fluctuate between 500 and 2000 mm and are distributed in two seasons, the season between February and May and the season between October and November. While the dry season between June and September is generally predictable, the duration and intensity of the rainy season is variable. The native vegetation of this zone has been generally replaced by pasture grasses and other cultivars such as cereals, maize and potato (Pourrut 2005:23).
Potrero Mendieta is in the rural parish of Uzhcurrumi, where the subsistence base of its inhabitants is almost exclusively based on farming as is the case throughout the Jubones Basin.
Agricultural production is focused on cacao, plantain, maize, and short-cycle crops such as orange, tangerine, quince, cassava, among other cultivars. The climate has also made this zone apt for raising cattle. Throughout the year, the cattle ranchers move their animals to different pastures to allow the regeneration of grasslands.
The slopes that lead from the village of Uzhcurrumi to Potrero Mendieta (~ 300 – 600 m asl) have been used to cultivate bananas for local consumption, and cacao (Theobroma cacao).
Nearly everyone I know in Uzhcurrumi, including the field archaeologists in this project, Marco
Asanza and Manuel Salazar, are cocoa farmers. One of the distinctive smells in a warm day in
Uzhcurrumi is that of the freshly extracted cocoa pods that are laid on the patios to sun-dry before being sold in the cocoa market in the town of Pasaje. The refreshing and sweet flavor of the cocoa seeds was such a soothing and energizing treat throughout our hike up to the site
(Figure 2-5).
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Figure 2-5. Mrs. Estela de Guayasaca and Jacob Lawson enjoying cocoa pods during a hike through the village of Sarayunga, in the northern banks of the Jubones.
Figure 2-6. Detail of the granodiorite boulder on the hillslope on the way to Potrero Mendieta, by the cocoa patch of Mr. Augusto Aguilar, member of the Uzchurrumi village council. The carving has the shape of a snake-like creature with a head at each end, and is protected from the elements by a makeshift tent.
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The presence of venomous snakes in the area is not only highly commented upon, but also easily verifiable. Throughout my time in the Jubones, I met a few of these reptiles without having purposely sought such encounters. Snake-like representations also appear engraved in the boulders, such as those located a few hundred meters up the hillside that leads to Potrero
Mendieta (Figure 2-6). But most of the animals with which one interacts in the field do not generate the allure and fear associated with snakes, better known as ―la sin orejas‖ (en. the earless one). The fields and farms in the Jubones are dominated by old-world faunas such as cows, donkeys, mules, horses, chickens, ducks, and other domesticates. Since Potrero Mendieta is now used as a cow pasture, every day during our fieldwork we interacted with these rather curious and gentle bovids.
Geological Setting of the Jubones River Basin
The Jubones Basin is part of the Northern Andes segment located directly north of the
Huancabamba deflection, in the general area where the Central Andes and the Northern Andes diverge (Gansser 1973). The Huancabamba region is a hilly area of northern Peru and southern
Ecuador, characterized by complex relief, tectonically multifarious and with distinctive terrains and two transverse mega-shears. Here the older Central Andes and younger Northern Andes fragment into ranges usually less than 3500 m high, which are separated by valleys situated between 1000 – 2000 m asl. The Huancabamba region has facilitated the movement of animal and plant taxa between the Amazon and the Pacific basins (Gentry 1982; Cadle 1991; Patterson et al. 1992). The eastern side of the Huancabamba Deflection presents significant changes in the overall geology of the Andes, as the Marañon River turns eastward into the Amazon Basin
(Sillitoe 1974; Clapperton 1993:779).
The greater Jubones River Basin is characterized by the presence of lava flows and pyroclasts that date back to the Pliocene-Miocene epochs, and the most recent deposits are from
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the Quaternary period. The topographies of the northern and southern sectors of the valley present a landscape carved by waterways that originate in the high elevations; these watercourses descend from the high peaks and cut into the hillsides forming undulating slopes. The low areas in the banks of the Jubones are characterized by eroded foothills dissected by steep cliffs, which were formed by massive flows of andesitic and basaltic lavas (Yaguachi 2013:35). The geology of the general region consists of the Oligocene (33.9 – 23 MYA) to the Miocene (ca. 23.03 – 5.3
MYA) age andesitic to dacitic ash-flow tuffs associated with the Saraguro Formation. The
Jubones Formation, a major rhyolitic ash-flow tuff unit that originated from major caldera-type eruptions and ash-flows, overlies the Saraguro Formation (Vera 2013; Figure 2-11).
Potrero Mendieta is located directly north from the sub-basin of the Chillayacu River, on the western portion of the Jubones. This area comprises the costal flatlands of the province of El
Oro and the foothills and ridges of the Cordillera Occidental, also referred to herein as the
Cordillera of Chilla. This topographic configuration affects the climate and vegetation of the zone.
The regional geological context of the Jubones River Basin is associated with the El Oro metamorphic complex, a distinct geological region located in southwestern Ecuador immediately east of the Tumbes region of present-day Peru. The complex was formed in the territories that are now politically defined as the El Oro province, south from the natural border with the Azuay province, which is the Jubones River. The outcrops that form the complex extend to the south of the Rio Puyango/Pindo, westward into Peru, and eastwards into the Loja Province covering in area of about 2400 Km2 (Aspden et al. 1995). The climate of the region is determined mostly by the effect of altitude that throughout the region is generally below 1500 m asl, although the variability in elevation is dramatic in some areas of the complex. The elevation can vary from
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less than 100 m asl in the northwestern floodplains, to more than 3,000 m in the east. The effects of the Humboldt and El Niño marine currents of the southern Pacific influence the climatic conditions.
Gold mining has had considerable economic significance in documented history. The
Zaruma mita was one of the oldest and most durable gold-mining camps instituted in the
Americas by the Spanish crown. The small mountain town of San Antonio de Zaruma has probably been the longest-running hard-rock camp in the Western hemisphere since the 1550s
(Anda Aguirre 1960; Caillavet 1988, 2000; Lane 2002, 2004). Throughout its history as an auriferous deposit, in a tropical and isolated mountain range characterized by a geology of mesothermal/epithermal polymetallic veins of the Portovelo/Zaruma and Ayapamba mining districts that account for most of the hard rock production, including a free gold-beating breccia pipe that are also now being worked by artisanal miners (Aspden et al. 1995:46).
The Jubones Basin During the Formative
In the context of the Formative, Potrero Mendieta is the largest site identified in southern
Ecuador that shares architectural elements with the early Formative site of Santa Ana La Florida, and other similitudes in the configuration of individual circular structures, as the ones identified in Catamayo and Bagua. The location of Potrero Mendieta, in relative proximity to sites with artefactual evidence of widespread exchange networks, such as Challuabamba and Pirincay can be considered as a node of social networks.
The significance of the biogeography of the Jubones Basin and the geology of El Oro metamorphic complex is twofold. First, in chapters 4 and 5 the results of the compositional analysis of a sample of the ceramic wares of Potrero Mendieta through petrography and NAA, provide a dataset from which the compositional and textural variability of the samples, and the possible sources of pottery from the mineralogical and petrographic composition of the matrices
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and tempers used in the elaboration of these wares are evaluated. And second, the interpretive possibilities afforded by the physical world produce a rather nuanced and complex reading of the processes of mobility and knowledge generation in this biogeographic context, and in relation to other regions.
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CHAPTER 3 SITE DESCRIPTION AND FIELD REPORT
This chapter will cover the field investigations in Potrero Mendieta. This exposition will include a brief review of the research programs adjacent to the area, a general summary of the archeological investigations, and a discussion on the structures identified at the site during the excavation and mapping projects. This discussion will present estimates on the labor that was involved in making the structures and how this gathering of labor suggests that Potrero Mendieta was a meeting enclave or a pilgrimage center for peoples from different regions connected by the
Jubones drainage.
The Site
Potrero Mendieta is situated in the Jubones River Basin, on the southern banks of the
Jubones River in the general area of the Chillayacu sub-basin. The northern side of the basin is bordered by the transverse cordillera Nudo Portete and the southern side by the Nudo
Guagrahuma and the cordillera of Chilla. The site lies on top of a hill overlooking the hamlet of
Uzhcurrumi (Figure 3-1), covers an area of approximately 1.7 hectares, and is situated between
592 and 602 m asl. The coordinates of the site are WGS 84 / UTM zone 17S E 655899, N
9631767: E 656186, N 963195. These fields are used as a cow pasture by its owner, Doña Rosa
Chávez de Mendieta, and can only be accessed directly via a makeshift path from Uzhcurrumi that climbs steeply and circuitously up the hill. The hill can also be climbed by a rider on horseback or by mules or donkeys carrying loads. Uzhcurrumi itself can be accessed from either the east or west via the Girón-Pasaje highway headed toward Pasaje or Cuenca, respectively, with the village being located four km south of the highway. Coming from the south,
Uzhcurrumi can be accessed through the road from Chilla. Potrero Mendieta was identified as an archaeological site in 2012.
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The preliminary investigations began in 2013 and were followed by field research during the summers of 2014 and 2015. The archaeological features identified thus far include five circular structures built from large river stones each measuring 8 m in diameter, at least two of which have concentric circular walls. These circular structures are arranged around a central plaza in front of which is a large rectangular platform. Beyond the plaza area there is an anthropogenic reservoir and a region that was paved with fire-cracked cobble stones. The earliest human occupation of the site dates from the first millennium B.C.E. The excavations were authorized by the owners of the site, the Mendieta-Chávez family (Figure 3-2), and the
Instituto Nacional de Patrimonio Cultural, Region 7.
Figure 3-1. Uzhcurrumi from the southern hillside on the path to Potrero Mendieta (Photo by Jacob Lawson).
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Figure 3-2. Doña Rosa Chávez showing a worked chert fragment to her grandchildren (Photo: Jacob Lawson).
Disambiguation of the Archaeology of the Jubones River Basin
The Jubones River basin has been mentioned in a plethora of publications on archaeological research, but there have never been any long-term archaeological investigations conducted in the Jubones River Basin (sensu stricto), and many of the sites that have been referred to as being along the Jubones are not, in fact, located in the valley of the
Jubones at all, but in regions that are adjacent (Figures 3-3 and 3-4). There have, however, been archaeological sites documented throughout the actual Jubones River Valley. Some of the most remarkable contexts were identified in the beginning of the twentieth century by Julio Matovelle,
Federico González Suárez and René Verneau and Paul Rivet (1912), but unfortunately, these sites rapidly deteriorated completely to the point of no longer being identifiable. In the wake of the demise of the structures and features observed by Matovelle and company it is not uncommon to come across archaeological artifacts scattered loosely on freshly tilled ground.
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The observations made by Federico González Suárez (1903) contain the earliest records of archaeological ruins associated with the sites of Chahuahurcu, located northeast of the Río
Rircay. Uhle (1922a, 1922b) characterized the sites of Chahuarurcu, Río Naranjo, Lunduma, Río
ircay, uinas de Minas and Hacienda Uchucay as part of the ―Chaullabamaba Civilization.‖ It is important to note that the architectural ruins of Rircay and Minas are not directly associated with the Jubones Valley, but with its tributaries. Among the most notable edifications associated with the Chaullabamba horizon in the region are the platforms identified in Hacienda
Uchucay, which consisted of five promontories that measure between 6 and 17 meters in diameter and 1.5 meters in height (Uhle 1922b: lám 3. Fig 5).
In the archaeological literature, the Jubones River Basin has generally been invoked within the context of the southern Ecuadorian Andes, the southern Ecuadorian coast, and northern Peru. These accounts are not associated with localized investigations in the actual
Jubones River Basin, except for the radiocarbon dates obtained by Elizabeth Carmichael,
Warwick Bray, and John Erickson (1979) in two homesteads by the Río Rircay (a tributary of the
Jubones): Villa Jubones and Hacienda Sumaypamba. Elizabeth Carmichael (1981) reported a radiocarbon date for each one of these sites a couple of years later. Sumaypamba was described by Verneau and Rivet (1912:108-109) as an architectural complex, located on top of a promontory, that covered an area of between 13 and 14 hectares. At that time, the walls that once stood there were reduced to debris and were almost at ground level. When Carmichael and colleagues (1979:143-144) worked at Sumaypamba they detected scant remnants of the construction. The ceramics recovered at Sumaypamba were associated with the forms and styles identified at Chaullabamba. One of the assays from Sumaypamba yielded a calibrated date of
398 BCE (Carmichael 1981:176).
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The title of the doctoral dissertation by oss Christensen (1956) ―An archaeological study of the Illescas-Jubones coast of northern Peru and southern Ecuador‖ implies an archaeological survey that comprised the Jubones River Valley to the Cerro Illescas in northern
Peru, but instead Christensen‘s investigations were mostly based on the Hacienda Chusís, in the
Piura department of Peru, approximately 300 kilometers south from the Jubones River. The archaeological sites and artifacts mentioned by Christensen for the province of El Oro are, for the most part, unprovenienced archeological artifacts recovered during hasty unregulated excavations of mound sites. The excavations in Hacienda La Esperanza that were reported by the author were one such excavation and, while they were located a few kilometers inland, they were not in the Jubones Basin (Christensen 1956:44-48).
Elizabeth Currie (1989) in her doctoral dissertation on her investigations of the sites of
Guarumal and Punta Brava, located at an estuary in the littoral of the El Oro Province approximately 50 kilometers to the southwest of the Jubones Valley, indicates that the site of
Guarumal was first identified by the engineering company Sir William Halcrow and Partners during their 1976 feasibility study for a dam in the Jubones River (Currie 1989:27). Nowadays, the archaeological evidence associated with the estuaries and mangrove ecosystems of the province of El Oro, and a great part of coastal Ecuador, has been destroyed and replaced by shrimp farms and pipelines for petroleum.
Anne-Marie Hocquenghem, Jaime Idrovo, Peter Kaulicke, and Dominique Gomis (1993) have explored the inter-regional networks between the social formations of the Jubones River in
Southern Ecuador and the Río Olmos in northern Peru between 1500 B.C.E. and 600 C.E. The hypothetical model proposed by these authors outlines the possible relationship between the culture-history entities of Valdivia in Ecuador and Huaca Prieta in Peru (Hocquenghem et al.
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1993:464). These inferences are mainly based on the presence of Spondylus shells in Formative contexts, which has been interpreted as a proxy of an early system of exchange.
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Figure 3-3. The extent of the Jubones valley after Verneau and Rivet (1912). The scale and the location of the archaeological edifices does not fully correspond to recent cartographic representation of the Jubones Basin. The ruins, however, have long been destroyed but there are consistent written accounts for their former existence from at least a century ago.
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Figure 3-4. The central Jubones riverbed from the town of Lacay (Photo by Jacob Lawson).
The Fieldwork
Identification and Preservation State of the Site
I first visited Potrero Mendieta in May 2012 and was shown the site by Joel Sánchez, a member of the parish of Uzhcurrumi council (Figures 3-5 and 3-6). When we first visited
Potrero Mendieta, Mr. Sánchez informed us that there were rocks in the shape of a circle on the ground, but because the grass was over five feet tall, we were unable to see them and so he indicated the placement of the rocks by hitting the ground with his machete. He also indicated that after the cows had thoroughly grazed the pasture one could see the circles located on top of slightly mounded hills of earth. Augusto Aguilar, another member of the parish council, was aware of the archaeological significance of the site because his family owned that land over thirty years ago. The site was officially registered with the Institute of Cultural Patrimony by the author.
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Figure 3-5. Overview of the site. This picture was taken from the rectangular platform located in the westernmost side of the hill, looking across the central plaza towards the circular structures to the east (Photo by Jacob Lawson).
Figure 3-6. Mr. Joel Sánchez at Potrero Mendieta, pointing to the northern side of the Jubones canyon where the hills of Mullepungo are located (Photo by Jacob Lawson).
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Team of Investigators
In the summer of 2011, I visited the villages of Sarayunga and Chilcaplaya, in the province of Azuay and inquired about the procedures for obtaining permits from the Institute of
Cultural Patrimony, Regional 6, to start a more comprehensive survey in the moorlands of the township of Pucará, on the north side of the Jubones. The visits in 2011 and 2012 were brief and largely focused on establishing relationships with the people from the area and planning a proposal to request the appropriate permits to start the work. In 2013 I was granted a permit by the Institute of Cultural Patrimony, Region 6, and additional permits from the municipalities of
Pucará, Zaruma and Pasaje.
During the field season of 2013, after having mapped a portion of the site, we dug five shovel test pits. Because the soil was extremely hard we used a hand auger. Based upon these excavations and the topographic map that we generated, I identified the location of three circular structures at the site. During the seasons of 2014 and 2015 I hired two local farmers who I trained to work on the project as field archaeologists, Marco Asanza and Manuel Salazar. My partner Jacob Lawson assisted us with the fieldwork logistics and excavations (Figures 3-7 and
3-8).
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Figure 3-7. From left to right: Marco Asanza, Manuel Salazar, Miriam Domínguez, and Jacob Lawson.
Mapping of the site
During the field season of 2013 we initiated a topographic survey of Potrero Mendieta
(Figure 3-9). The purpose of this survey was to gather spatial data to model elevations and grading features of anthropogenic and natural features of the land. We used a theodolite integrated with an electronic distance measurement device to collect the points that were used to build the map. Prior to the topographic survey we established a datum that was used throughout the fieldwork. In addition to collecting elevation data, we mapped rocks that we suspected delineated the structures that were identified in our pedestrian survey.
Layout of the Architectural Complex
On the west edge of the site there is a rectangular structure that measures 9 x 14 meters and sits approximately two meters above the datum. Although we call it a ―rectangular structure,‖ it differs from other structures at the site in that the large stones placed in lines do not
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appear to belong to walls. Also, our survey did not identify the fourth wall of the rectangle.
That is, the 14 meter line of rocks that runs north to south faces the large open plaza. At both ends of this line there is a line of rocks headed away from the plaza at a 90 degree angle for a distance of at least 9 meters. Beyond this point, the hill begins to descend and the landscape is curved. These stones, then, effectively delineate an area on the top of the promontory that is visible from all the identified structures and is perched on the western edge of the hill. This structure lies on the bedrock of the hill and is surrounded by boulders of granodiorites that are mineralogically and lithologically characteristic of the Taqui and Quera Chico units (Aspden et al. 1995:24). A notable feature on the western side of the structure, where the hill drops down, is the presence of a carved and pecked boulder. It is impossible to assess the antiquity of the weathered petroglyphs. However, it is notable that another large boulder covered with petroglyphs sits at the eastern edge of Potrero Mendieta and is similar to those identified at the edge of the Jubones‘ banks in the villages of Lacay and Sarayunga. Inside the rectangular structure there were two large looting holes. According to the anecdotes told by the persons who made these holes and the hearsay from other locals, those treasure hunting endeavors were futile.
The rectangular platform faces the eastern extent of the site and for first 100 meters in that direction there is a flat open area, slightly lower than the platform and the circular structures that surround it.
The circular structures, that were the principal foci of the field research, are distributed around the perimeter of the plaza area. To the south there is a slightly lower elevation area in which the pavement was identified and further to the east, beyond the circular structures, there is a reservoir that we determined was constructed in antiquity, possibly in conjunction with the rest of the complex. This was determined through the identification of the base of the circular wall
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from Structures 1 and 2 that dated around 3,000 years BP. It is likely that human occupation preceded these edifications based on the presence of pottery sherds below the floor of the structures. The area just beyond the reservoir was established as the eastern border of our investigations.
Figure 3-8. Marco Asanza using an auger to reach beyond sterile level at one of the paved structures in the site.
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Figure 3-9. Topographic map of Potrero Mendieta at 0.5 meter intervals.
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Archaeological Excavations
The topographic map of the site was created during the field seasons of 2013, 2014 and
2015. Through the mapping of the site, we identified the general configuration of the site and the distinctive circular structures that measure between seven and nine meters in diameter. The stones that comprise the structures at the site are readily distinguishable from high grass on which the cows feed when poked with a machete (the technique we were originally shown), but many of the stones are entirely below the surface of the field and, therefore, challenging to locate. In search of something superior to a machete for probing the ground, we commissioned two metal probes with narrow pointed rods that dramatically improved our ability to locate stones below the surface. This aided us locating the structures amidst the tall grass. During the field season of 2013, since there were no surface artifacts to be collected, we excavated five auger tests around the site to corroborate the presence of cultural material.
For the auger tests, we used an AMS brand regular soil auger of 4 inches in diameter, which is commonly used for obtaining disturbed soil samples at or near the surface and for boring to depths where soil samples may be obtained with a separate soil sampler or soil core sampler. The bits of the regular soil auger are open to allow entry of small soil clumps and relatively small rocks and particles.
In the first auger test, STP1, at 45 cm below the surface, we recovered small ceramic sherds and lithic débitage. We used a ¼ inch screen to recover smaller pieces of débitage and ceramic sherds. At 70 cm below the surface we hit a layer of white and chalky sediment that appeared to be calcium carbonate. After this deposit, we hit the sterile layer that was formed by sandy clay mottled with white and red sediments. The auger hit rocks below the sterile stratum.
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In the second auger test, STP2, at 24 cm below the surface, we only had a small piece of red chert (0.5 cm), and around 75 cm we hit a sterile layer of clay mottled with yellow-orange sediment and white sediment. Further auger excavation was stopped by the presence of rocks.
The third auger test, STP3, was placed within the wall of Structure 2, right next to the rocks that appeared to delineate the structure. No cultural materials were recovered from this auger test and at 62 cm below the surface we hit a rocky surface.
For STP4, we set aside the auger and proceeded with trowels to excavate a test pit on the south side of Structure 2. The dimensions of the pit are approximately 60 x 80 centimeters. The test pit was dug straddling the wall of the circular structure, which helped reveal the stones and identify that below them were more stones and that they were, in fact, part of a wall. At 20 cm below the surface, the sediment was a gray sandy loam with a few small pottery sherds. At 36 cm, the sediment appeared to have conglomerations of what appeared to be calcium carbonate and sandstone. At 46 cm, we hit the sterile layer.
The last test pit excavated in 2013 was STP5. STP5 is a 1 x 1 meter test unit excavated in the southern margin of Structure 1. STP 5 is also known as unit DL23 (see the naming scheme in Figure 3-12). The strata of this test unit appear as follows:
Stratum I (Surface – 15 cm): 7.5 YR 6/1
Stratum II (15 – 28 cm): 7.5 YR 3/2
Stratum III (28 – 54 cm): 7.5 YR 2.5/1
Stratum IV (54 – 75 cm): 7.5 YR 3/1
Stratum V (75 – 85 cm): 7.5 YR 8/1
Stratum VI (85 – 102 cm): 7.5 YR 4/2
At 12 cm below the surface we encountered a few pieces of ceramic sherds and plotted a granodiorite river stone that appeared to be part of the circular wall. The excavation was
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difficult because of the presence of conglomerates that appeared to be calcium carbonate.
Following the 2014 season, I brought a sample of these white sediments from the preliminary excavations to Drs. Michael Perfit and John Jaeger in the department of Geological Sciences at the University of Florida. Upon initial examination they believed the material to be calcium carbonate, but were then surprised to find that chemical testing disproved this assumption. When examined under a microscope they concluded that the material was volcanic tephra comprised of glass and/or phenocrysts of feldspar (M. Perfit and J. Jaeger, personal communication,
September 2014) (Figure 3-10). Furthermore, they stated that for the tephra to appear as it had, in very fine particles, it must have been from an eruption some significant distance away. We would later discover that there are large deposits of tephra underneath portions of the site and that tephra was mined and repurposed by the inhabitants.
(a) (b)
Figure 3-10. Photographs of the volcanic tephra at 10 X. The image on the left was taken using only one polarizer, or ―plane polarized light‖ (PPL). The image on the right was taken using two polarizers at 90° to each other; no light can pass through. The cross polarizers are called ―cross polarized light‖ (XPL) (Photos by Ann Cordell).
From the screened sediment excavated at approximately 33 cm, we encountered a few pieces of chert (unaltered) and two sherds of pottery. At around 50 cm, the soil matrix changed into a darker more chocolaty brown color. In this stratum we recovered several pieces of
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degraded pottery. These very fragile sherds were mixed with the matrix. Below this layer we recovered a piece of worked lithic material (Figure 3-11). This worked lithic artifact resembles a scraper-like tool and is made of a brownish-gray microcrystalline sedimentary rock that is rich in silica. The sterile stratum is located at 102 cm below the surface where we encountered what we believed to be the sterile layer. It consisted of solid soft white rock. We backfilled the unit and lined it with plastic with the intention of uncovering it again the following year. We were interested in removing a large and light boulder of what we thought was calcium carbonate that was placed on top of what we now know to be the ash floor. In 2014 we returned to Structure 1 and opened STP5. The grid was laid out and the naming convention for the units was based on the location of the datum.
Figure 3-11. Worked lithic fragment with pressure flaked edges.
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Figure 3-12. Unit labeling schemata. Each unit is labeled based on its location in relation to the datum. In this coordinate graph the East-West axis is represented by the x axis, and the North-South axis is represented by the y axis. The unit name is the southwestern corner of each 1x1 meter unit. For example, the southwest corner of a unit that is located at 3 meters east from the datum and at 6 meters north from the datum will be plotted in the coordinate graph as (3,6). The coordinates east from the datum are represented with a combination of two letters of the Latin alphabet. One meter east from the datum will be AA, 2 will be AB, and so on. After the 26 letters have been combined with the letter A, the combination BA will follow. In this example, the coordinate north from the datum, or y, is represented by number 6. So, the southwest corner on the graph (3,6) will be AC6. An example of a unit located in the southwest quadrant will follow a similar pattern, but the coordinates west from the datum, or x, are represented with a combination of two letters, the first from the Greek alphabet and the second from the Latin alphabet. And so, -1-meter west from the datum will be αA, -2 will be αB, and so on. After the 26 Latin letters have been combined with the letter α, ßA will follow. The coordinate south from the datum, or y, is represented by -10. So on the example from the graph (-5,-10) will be αE-10.
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Structure 1
In 2014 we returned to Structure 1 and opened STP5. The grid was laid out and the naming convention for the units was based on the location of the datum (Figure 3-13). Based on this naming convention STP5 is DL 23. During the field season of 2014 we excavated the adjoining units in Structure 1 to uncover a portion of a circular wall: DL 24; DM 23 and DN 23.
Figure 3-13. Grid of 1 x1 meter units for Structure 1.
The stratigraphic profile of the north wall of unit DL 24 is representative of the stratigraphy observed in Structure 1 (Figure 3-14).
Stratum I (Surface – 10 cm): 7.5 YR 4/1, sandy soil laden with grass roots and two fragments of quartz.
Stratum II (~ 10 – 25 cm): 7.5 YR 6/1, sandy soil with gravel.
Stratum III (~ 25 – 40 cm): 7.5 YR 3/2, clay matrix.
Stratum IV (~ 40 – 60 cm): 7.5 YR 2.5/1, clay matrix. Strata III and IV also present what at first appeared to be microstratigraphic deposition and ceramic sherds mixed with calcite and clay agglomerates. This association might be attributed to a backfilling episode.
Stratum V (~ 60 – 80 cm): 7.5 YR 3/1. This stratum is characterized by the greater density of cultural materials recovered in situ, among which there are small lithic artifacts made of chert.
Stratum VI (~ 80 – 85 cm): 7.5 YR 8/1. This stratum is formed by a thin deposit of compacted volcanic tephra. From the preliminary excavations, we documented the
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presence of a thin (2.5 -3.5 cm thick) layer of tephra comprised of glass and/or phenocrysts of feldspar (Drs. Michael Perfit and John Jaeger [personal communication, September, 2014]) located at a depth of 85 cm below the surface, inside Structure 1. The presence of volcanic ash presents us with another line of inquiry that will be explored. In fact, Rodbell and colleagues (2002) identified widespread tephras in the glacial lakes of El Cajas National Park (approximately 50 miles from Potrero Mendieta) that were deposited ∼9900, 8800, 7300, 5300, 2500, and 2200 cal yr BP. If the tephra found at Potrero Mendieta can be matched to the tephras recovered by Rodbell and colleagues (2002), the archaeological deposits that are immediately associated with it could be chronologically contextualized.
Stratum VII (~ 85 – 95 cm): 7.5 YR 4/2. This stratum is formed by a compact soil matrix of sandy clay, and lays directly below the ash floor. The artifacts associated with this stratum are thin red-slipped pottery sherds (~ 3mm thick).
Stratum VIII (~ 95 – 115 cm): 7.5 YR 5/3, sandy soil. At a depth of 115 cm was found the only stylistically diagnostic ceramic rim, which bears resemblance to pottery from early Valdivia, Phase 2 (2650-2400 BCE) (Lathrap et al. 1975; Peter Stahl [personal communication, August 2014]) (Figure 3-15). Below this stratum there was no cultural material.
Figure 3-14. unit DL24, north wall profile.
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Figure 3-15. Rim PM_EC2014_08.
At the beginning of the field season of 2014 we removed the backfill of DL 23 and opened the unit located directly to the north, DL 24, and the unit directly to the east, DM 23
(Figures 3-16, 3-17 and 3-18). By excavating DL 24 we were able to confirm that the large rock in the north wall of DL 23 was in fact a boulder of ash and not a natural feature of the landscape.
We proceeded to remove it and, underneath where the ash boulder had been, we encountered disintegrated pottery mixed with charcoal. Some of this charred material, recovered at 92 cm below the surface, was sent for AMS dating and yielded a calibrated date of 3326 to 3071 BP.
Our purpose in excavating DM23 was to expose the wall of the circular structure. DL 24 was excavated to 115 cm, DM 23 was only excavated to a depth of 92 centimeters because I feared that the wall would collapse had we continued digging through the base. This depth still allowed us to clearly expose the construction of the wall and demonstrate the continuity of the ash floor layer. Our concern with maintaining the integrity of the wall informed our planning throughout the excavation and was perhaps most notable in our decision to only excavate DN 23 to 40 centimeters in depth. DN 23, one unit to the east of DM 23, straddles the outside of the
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wall and, we hoped, would give us a small picture of what lay immediately outside the circular structures. Our topographic survey had suggested that there are concentric circular walls outside of Structure 2 and our excavations demonstrated collapsed concentric walls in Structure 3. In
DN 23 we encountered smaller stones, some of which had been fractured, that appeared to be a collapsed concentric wall. Determining this with certainty would require opening a unit further to the east or removing the smaller stones from DN 23 which may destabilize the larger, primary wall. The stratigraphy of trench DM 23 and DN 23 is consistent with the north wall profile of
DL 24 (Figure 3-15).
Figure 3-16. Units DM 23 and DN23, north wall profile.
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Figure 3-17. Excavation in progress of units DM23 and DN23.
Figure 3-18. West-east view of units DL23, DM23 and DN23. Note the configuration of the circular wall.
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Structure 2
During the field season of 2014 we started excavations of circular Structure 2. We began by opening two contiguous 1 x 1 m units: CT -7 and CT -8. CT -7 is located on the northern side of the structure and overhangs part of the wall, unit CT -8 is oriented towards the center of the structure (Figure 3-19).
The stratigraphic profile of Structure 2, as observed in the east wall of units CT -7 and
CT -8, is as follows (Figure 3-20):
Stratum I (Surface – 24 cm): 7.5 YR 4/1, sandy soil with few scattered pottery sherds and gravel. Also in this stratum, we started to see the river rocks that form the wall. The coloration of the granodioritic rocks is GY 1 5/10Y, greenish gray.
Stratum II (~ 24 – 42 cm): 7.5 YR 3/2, sandy soil with gravel and scattered ceramics
Stratum III (~ 42 – 62 cm): 7.5 YR 2.5/1, clay matrix mottled with orange and white.
Stratum IV (~ 62 – 80 cm): 7.5 YR 3/1, very dark gray soil matrix mottled with charcoal, white conglomerates, and disintegrated ceramics. In unit CT -8 we excavated a hearth from which a charred sample was recovered and sent for AMS dating. This assay yielded a radiocarbon calibrated date of 2995 to 2855 B.P. This charcoal lens was identified at 77 cm below the surface.
Stratum V (~ 80 – 82 cm): 7.5 YR 7/8 clay matrix mottled with 7.5 YR 7/8 reddish yellow, 8/6, 8/1, 8/2, and soft white rock. This is a sterile stratum.
To begin the 2015 field season we removed the backfill that had been placed at the end of
2014 from units CT -8 and the partially excavated CT -7 and opened a trench comprised of CU -
8, CU -9, and CU -10. The stratigraphic profile of the eastern wall of the trench is:
Stratum I (Surface – 18 cm): 10 YR 5/2, sandy soil with few scattered pottery sherds and gravel. Also in this stratum, we started to see the river rocks that form the wall. The coloration of the granodioritic rocks is GY 1 5/10Y, greenish gray.
Stratum II (~ 18 – 32 cm): 10 YR 6/2, sandy soil with gravel and scattered ceramics
Stratum III (~ 32 – 54 cm): 10 YR 4/3, clay matrix mottled with 10 YR 8/1, 6/8, 8/6.
Stratum IV (~ 54 – 70 cm): 10 YR 4/2, mottled with 10 YR 8/1, 6/8, 8/6.
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Stratum V (~ 70 – 78 cm): 10 YR 3/2. The matrix of both strata IV and V is clay mixed with calcium carbonate, volcanic ash and conglomerates of sandstone.
Stratum VI (~ 78 – 84 cm): 10 YR 7/8 clay matrix mottled with 10 YR 7/8, 6/8, 8/6. This is a sterile stratum.
Figure 3-19. Grid of 1 x1 meter units for Structure 2.
In 2014 we opened CT -7 to confirm that the rocks observed in STP 4 were the top layer of a wall similar to that which we had fully excavated at Structure 1 earlier in the season. After
~40cm were excavated it was determined that the wall was indeed of similar construction (large river rocks piled without mortar to what appeared to be a similar height) so instead of continuing to sterile, we moved to CT -8 with the intention of seeing the full stratigraphy of Structure 2. At
80cm we encountered a charcoal lens ~30cm in diameter with extensive fragmented ceramics.
We took samples and continued excavating CT -8. Below the charcoal lens we encountered a sterile layer of striated orange and dark brown clay. To confirm there were no further
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archaeological levels beneath, we continued to excavate a further 40 cm and then did a hand auger test finding nothing but the orange and brown clay.
In 2015, prior to opening a trench on the east side of units CT -7 and CT -8, we removed the backfill from 2014 and continued with the excavation of unit CT -7 to reach the base of the wall and the sterile strata. The wall in this portion of Structure 2 extended to 82 cm below the surface. From this point on we encountered a thick and hard sterile layer of yellowish clay mottled with whitish rock conglomerates (these conglomerates will be discussed later).
We next excavated a north-south trench comprised by units CU -8 (contiguous to the east side of unit CT -8), CU -9, and CU -10. In our excavations, we followed the natural depositional levels and at around 20-25 cm depth the entire trench was free of any cultural material except for a notable conglomeration of rocks in unit CU -9 and CU -10 (Figure July 10). This conglomeration strikingly contrasted with the lack of cultural material or any kind of rock deposition in the rest of the trench. What is more, these rocks were attached to one another by what appeared to be a mortar made of volcanic ash and clay. After drawing and photographing the cluster of rocks we removed them and continued excavating. At 58 cm it was evident that a very large boulder of ash was protruding into CU -9 and CU -10 and it would be expedient to open units further to the west in order to remove it. We chose to open two half units in that direction: the east half of CT -9 and CT -10. As we suspected, once again we found clustered rocks that were a continuation of the rock pattern we saw in the unit CU -9 at ~25 cm in depth.
We had been removing the clustered rocks after drawing and photographing them, hence we realized a bit late that these placements were probably mosaic-like representations that were laid on top of the structure (Figure 3-21). We were able to reconstruct the pattern of the placement of these stones by superimposing the drawings and the pictures of the units prior to
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the removal of the stones from CU -9 and CU -10. Based on the radiocarbon dates obtained from this structure, ranging between 1381 to 1131 cal BP from the earliest depositional contexts to 1114 to 935 cal BP from the shallow stratum (25cm) in which the rocks of the mosaic were placed, the stratigraphy of the structure, and the scarcity of a patterned placement of cultural materials, I suspect that the depositional pattern of Structures 1 and 2 are the product of a backfill episode(s) that was associated with either the abandonment or the refurbishment of the complex.
Future horizontal excavations, at least of one circular structure in its entirety, will help to better support or change this conjecture.
Returning to the excavation of the trench, the soil matrix that appeared to be introduced in the structure as backfill contained very fragmented pottery sherds and occasional small lithics
(Figure 3-27). At 30 cm, a large ash boulder with a carved groove began to appear sticking out of the west wall of CT -9 and CT -10. At approximately 40 cm an agglomeration of rocks began to be apparent and extended vertically down to approximately 85 cm below the surface, at the same stratum in which the charcoal lens was found in CT -8.
At the bottom of the excavation, between the floor and the sterile strata, at ~ 85 cm, we found a line of medium-large rocks (45cm in diameter) that run straight east-west between units
CU -9 an CU -10 (Figures 3-28 and 3-29). Also at the bottom of the excavation in unit CT -9, on the northern side of the line of rocks, we identified an angular granodioritic pecked rock that was
40 cm long. At the same stratum on unit CT -10 between the dark sandy soil and the sterile orange clay sediment we recovered two pieces of translucent light orange chert that had been worked (Figure 3-26).
Towards the end of the 2015 field season we opened the west half of unit CT -9 and the adjacent unit to the west, CS -9. Then we excavated the ―pile of rocks‖ where we uncovered a
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rock pecked in a shape that resembles a reptilian head, perhaps a snake (Figure 3-22). Of course, that is a personal impression based on the shape. So, this ―snakehead-shaped rock‖ was laid on top of black polished diorite rock. Directly below these rocks was a blue rock that has a flat top that was coated or painted with a greenish-blue pigment. This blue rock lay on the bottom of the excavation right above the orange clay sterile level (Figures 3-23, 3-24).
Once the units CT -9 west and CS -9 were excavated, we were able to see the western edge of the monticule of rocks. At 63 cm depth we identified a piece of red chert that clearly is a lithic core from which flakes were once extracted. At the western edge of the monticule, in unit
CS -9, at the bottom of the excavation and opposite the blue rock that was on the east side, we recovered a ball of red ochre approximately the size of a large grapefruit (Figure 3-25).
Figure 3-20. Units CT-10, CT-9, CT-8 and CT-7, west wall profile with central feature consisting of mounded rocks.
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Figure 3-21. Mosaic-like placement of rock after the backfilling event in Structure 2.
Figure 3-22. Top layer of the rock mound.
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Figure 3-23. Lowest level of mounded rocks with blue pigmented rock at the center (immediately left from the north arrow), and straight line of rocks place east to west (parallel to measuring stick).
Figure 3-24. Rock with blue pigment.
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Figure 3-25. Red ochre.
Figure 3-26. Fragment of a chert flake # CT-10_4572 Stratum 6.
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Figure 3-27. Lithic débitage CT-9, Stratum 6.
Figure 3-28. Units CT-7 and CT-8. At the northwest corner of the unit, the large river stones are part of the circular structure. At the base of CT-7 is the heart PM_ST2_CT-8_77 that dates to Cal BP 3067 to 2878.
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Figure 3-29. Line of rocks immediately south of where the mound of rocks was placed. These boulders were inset 20 centimeters below the floor of the backfill episode.
Structure 3
This structure is located in the northernmost sector of the site and overlooks the hill face that drops down to Uzhcurrumi and the road that follows the Jubones River Canyon (Figure 3-
30). The excavation of the topsoil down to approximately 20 centimeters in depth yielded thin- walled ceramic sherds, 2-3 mm in thickness, some of which were coated with red slip. Also at this stratum, the river rocks that were used to build the structure started to become apparent.
When we conducted the topographic survey and were identifying stones that likely belonged to structures, we were also probing below the surface of the soil and identified what
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appear to be concentric circular walls outside of the principal wall of Structures 1 and 2.
However, our sampling strategy and priorities did not allow us the time to confirm this through excavation. Structure 3, on the other hand, appeared from our probe-based topographic work to be ovular in shape, but as we started excavating the top soil of these units, we uncovered river stones that formed at least two collapsed concentric circles. It is probable that the perceived ovular shape in the topographic survey was, in fact, a function of where stones from the collapsed walls were located during the survey and that the structure was originally circular in shape. Furthermore, the shallow stratigraphy suggests that, unlike Structures 1 and 2, Structure 3 was never backfilled and this decreased the stability of the walls leading to collapse. The strata of the east-west trench BV 50; BW 50; BX 50; BY 50 is displayed as follows (Figures 3-31, 3-
32, 3-33, 3-34):
Stratum I (Surface – 14 cm): 10 YR 5/2 sandy clay with pottery sherds.
Stratum II (14 – 25 cm): 10 YR 6/2 mottled with 10 YR 6/8, 6/1, sandy clay with pottery sherds
Stratum III (25 – 40 cm): 10 YR 4/2 sandy clay mottled with 10 YR 6/8, 6/1.
Stratum IV – only from BV 50 (40 – 82 cm): 10 YR 7/2 volcanic ash mottled with 10 YR 6/1 (Figure 3-35).
The soil matrix in this trench was compacted and we were still concerned with maintaining the integrity and stability of the archaeological features. To this end, we only excavated around the collapsed walls with trowels to better expose the pattern of the construction. As in the excavation of Structure 1, we did not remove the river rocks but numbered, drew and photographed them so that, in case they were accidentally dislodged, they could easily be returned to the positions in which they were found at the time of the excavation.
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Figure 3-30. Grid of 1 x1 meter units for Structure 3.
Figure 3-31. Units BV50 and BW50.
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Figure 3-32. Unit BX50.
Figure 3-33. Units BY50.
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Figure 3-34. East-west view of structure 3. Note the collapsed concentric walls.
The easternmost unit of this trench is BV 50 and it lies entirely within the collapsed walls of Structure 3. We excavated this unit as deep as 130 centimeters (90 cm beyond the sterile level) to understand the stratigraphy of this sector. The deposits below the archaeological levels consisted entirely of compacted volcanic ash that was likely deposited through aeolian action before human occupation. The volcanic ash found in the floor of Structure 1 might have been quarried from these deposits. Other evidence of the inhabitants having quarried and repurposed the ash deposits are the large, hewn boulders of ash inside the circular structures, the use of ash as a component of mortar for construction purposes and as an additive to pottery paste recipes.
In unit BW 50 at 15 cm in depth we found a small nugget of unworked jadeite (Figure 3-36).
This mineral is found in the lithology of the Late Jurassic – Early Cretaceous La Chilca Unit (see biogeography chapter). The La Chilca Unit is located approximately 60 kilometers southwest of the Jubones Valley.
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Figure 3-35. Tephra in unit BV50.
In unit BX 50, at around a depth of 40 cm from the surface, we recovered a charcoal sample that yielded a calibrated radiocarbon age of 3330 – 3080 BP. In units BW 50 and BX 50 we could see that there are at least two lines of rocks from the fallen walls. Beyond 25 centimeters in depth there was no cultural material, but conglomerates of rock, ash and clay. At
25 cm in BW 50 the color of the soil darkened in the shape of a circular feature. We believed the incipient feature, with its diameter of ~25cm, might have been a postmold, but we wanted to confirm that the discoloration of the soil continued vertically (Figure 3-37). To this end we bisected the void that had been filled with darker earth and continued to excavate vertically. By exposing this cross-section, we could clearly see that the feature extended 40 cm below where it was detected. The location of this postmold, just inside the principal wall of the circular structure, hints at how a roof may have been constructed. The lack of any evidence of mortar in
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the circular walls, combined with the location of this postmold, suggests that the walls were not load bearing.
Figure 3-36. Unworked jadeite nugget, unit BX50, Stratum 1.
Figure 3-37. Postmold BW50.
Trench BF -71, BF -72: The Pavement
This location of this trench was chosen in part because it is situated beyond the southern edge of the plaza in a region of that site that had not been investigated in detail (Figure 3-38). In this sector the field drops gently in elevation by approximately 1.5 meters. Test Units BQ -51,
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BR -51, BQ -52 and BR -52 also lie in this zone. BF-71 and BF -72, however, are positioned at the edge of a 3 meter hill and it was this drop off that I chose to use as the southern border of the site. When we mapped and probed the ground in 2013 we detected, right along the edge of the aforementioned hill, a surface covered with stones that did not conform to the circular pattern of
Structures 1, 2, and 3. The extent of this pattern was obliterated by the presence of tall grass and quince trees, but we were able to determine that there appeared to be a line of large stones running north to south. Hence we investigated two north-south units right on the edge of the so- called pavement: BF -71 and BF -72 (Figure 3-39). The strata of this trench appear as follows:
Stratum I (Surface – 8 cm): 7.5 YR 5/4. Brown sandy loam with six ceramic sherds that are not stylistically diagnostic.
Stratum II (~ 8 – 20 cm): 7.5 YR 4/3. Sandy loam and small pieces of quartz (Figure 3- 42). The quartz did not appear to have been worked, but it was notable to find those nodules in this part of the site. At around 14 centimeters in depth there is a layer of small stones, 10 – 20 cm in diameter, that are place in close proximity to each other to form a sort of pavement in unit BF -72. This pavement is mostly made of granodiorite cobbles from the river that, to be placed in the ground tidily, were fractured to obtain a flat side – probably using heat (Figure 3-40).
Stratum III (~20 – 40 cm): Dark brown clay 7.5 YR 3/2, mottled with 7.5 YR 6/8 reddish yellow clay. No archaeological remains were found in this depositional unit.
Stratum IV (~ 40 – 108 cm): Dark brown clay 7.5 YR 3/2, mottled with 7.5 YR 6/8 reddish yellow clay, 8/1 white, 8/2 and pinkish white conglomerates. This is also a sterile stratum (Figure 3-41).
The pavement identified in BF -72 is notable in that it demonstrates how significant anthropogenic features that do not broach the ground surface are likely to go unnoticed. The extent of the pavement is unknown as is the age as no datable organic material was located.
However, the transition to a sterile level at ~ 30 cm suggests that, with such shallow stratigraphy, it is feasible the construction of the pavement could have been coeval with that of the circular structures.
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Figure 3-38. Grid of 1 x1 meter units for the pavement.
Figure 3-39. Units BF-71 and BF-72, east wall profile.
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Figure 3-40. BF-72 with spiral pavement.
Figure 3-41. BF-71 sterile level.
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Figure 3-42. Manuel Salazar holding an unworked quartz flake.
Sector BQ -51; BR -51; BQ -52; BR -52
The field season of 2015 started on June 23rd. We laid out a grid north from the paved sector (excavated in the field season of 2014). In this grid the excavated units were: BQ -51; BR
-51; BQ -52; BR -52. In this sector, we also excavated auger test pits to determine the stratigraphy and compare it with the stratigraphy of the structures (Figures 3-43, 3-44, 3-45).
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Figure 3-43. Grid of 1 x1 meter units for sector BQ and BR.
Figure 3-44. Units BQ-51, BR-51, BQ-52 and BR-52.
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Figure 3-45. Units BQ-51, BR-51, BQ-52 and BR-52 with auger tests.
The soil matrix of the first natural level in these units was approximately 10 to 15 centimeters deep and was mixed with river cobbles; however, it does not appear to be a paved structure. Beyond the first stratum we encountered a sterile level and decided to proceed with auger tests pits to determine the presence or absence of cultural material beyond the sterile level.
PM_STP6, placed within unit BQ -51, presented the following stratigraphic relationships:
Surface – 20 cm: 10 YR 4/2; sandy soil and undecorated and coarse pottery.
20 – 35 cm: 10 YR 4/1, 6/6, 8/3, 8/1; mottled clay.
35 – 95 cm: 10 YR 6/4, clay matrix.
Bottom: 10 YR 7/2; light beige volcanic ash. Beyond this sterile level it was impossible to penetrate the ground with the auger alone.
PM_STP7, placed within unit BQ -51, presented the following stratigraphic relationships:
Surface – 20 cm: 10 YR 4/2; sandy soil and pottery.
20 – 35 cm: 10 YR 4/1, 6/6, 8/3, 8/1; mottled clay.
35 – 95 cm: 10 YR 6/4, clay matrix.
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Bottom of the auger test, 95 – 120 cm: 10 YR 7/2; light beige volcanic ash. With this auger test pit, we were able to access the ash depositional unit a bit further than in the previous STP.
PM_STP8, placed within unit BQ -52 was excavated to a depth of 87 centimeters below the surface and the excavations were stopped by a hardened ash deposit.
PM_STP9, also placed within unit BQ -52 was excavated to a depth of 1 meter below the surface and the excavations were stopped by a hardened ash deposit.
This sector (BQ -51; BR -51; BQ -52; BR -52) was characterized by an abundance of thick (8-10 mm) and highly fragmented sherds on the surface and within the topsoil. There was no charred or other datable material associated with these deposits. However, we recovered samples of the volcanic ash.
STP 10: The Reservoir
During the summer of 2015 the anthropogenic reservoir, located in the northeastern corner of the site in line with Structure 1 and the rectangular platform on the westernmost side of
Potrero Mendieta, was dry. This reservoir was dug out and ringed with very large (70 cm and larger) river rocks during ancient times, probably by the same people who built the other stone structures before the first millennium BCE. The reservoir, also known as the lake, measures approximately 20 x 12 meters in length and width, respectively, and covers an area of around
188 m2. Every year, during the rainy season, the reservoir, which is approximately three meters deep, gets filled with water to various levels depending on the amount of precipitation. The cattle ranchers drain most of this water and divert it for irrigation of the cacao fields and leave some of it in the reservoir for the cows to drink. In 2015 the region had an inordinately dry rainy season and, by the summer, the reservoir was dry. This was a good opportunity for us to excavate a test pit in the center of it.
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Marco Asanza excavated test pit PM_STP10_2015 (Figure 3-46). After removing the cow dung and the incipient grass, Marco excavated a 1 x1 m unit, STP10. While the first 50 cm consisted of thick, clay-rich mud, at 60 cm DBS we identified a clean clay deposit of light gray color (10YR 7/2) and took a sample that appears in both the NAA and petrographic reports as
MED-10/MD10. At 85 cm DBS we recovered a couple of pottery sherds that appeared to be from same vessel, but were not suitable for refitting; this pottery sample appears in both the
NAA and petrographic reports as MED-12/MD12 (Figure 3-47). At 110 cm DBS we identified a clean clay deposit of a similar coloration and took a sample that appears in both the NAA and petrographic reports as MED-11/MD11. Just before we reached the archaeologically sterile deposits, at 130 cm DBS we recovered a large sherd of approximately 20 by 10 cm that appeared to have been part of the base of a vessel; in both the NAA and petrographic reports as MED-
13/MD13.
Surface – 60 cm: 10 YR 4/2; sandy soil.
65 – 95 cm: charcoal and white conglomerates (calcium carbonate? / volcanic ash?) and ceramic sherds
95 – 110 cm: 10 YR 3/2, mottled with sand 5 YR 5/8 and white rocks
110 – 140 cm: 2.5 Y 5/3, clay matrix mottled with clay veins colored 10 YR 6/8, 8/8, 5/1, and 5GY 5/2.
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Figure 3-46. Marco Asanza excavating STP10 in the center of the reservoir.
Figure 3-47. Pottery sherds recovered at 85 cm DBS in STP10.
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Test Unit FX 83
This test unit is located in the easternmost portion of the site, on top of a hill that forms the eastern bank of the reservoir. The elevation of this area is around 5 meters higher than the reservoir. When we first laid out this unit, I made a mistake in the nomenclature and called it
GH 83. Once the mistake was caught, I amended the field notes.
The northern and western ―boundaries‖ of the site were derived from the landscape, in that there are steep drop-offs in those two directions, but the choice of where to draw the southern and eastern borders of the site were more subjective. The location of FX 83, above and to the east of the reservoir, is also in close proximity to a large boulder covered in petroglyphs and directly north from the easternmost structure identified. This north-south line, from structure to petroglyphs, to hilltop, seemed a logical line of delineation at the east end of the potrero. The process for choosing the southern border is detailed in the presentation of the excavation of BF -
71, BF -72.
FX 83 contained no anthropogenic materials and the hill on which it sits likely consists of the soil that was extracted to build the reservoir. From the surface to 25 centimeters, the soil color is 7.5 YR 3/4 dark brown, mottled with pebbles and soil conglomerates that range from 10
R 6/8 light red, to 7.5 R 8/3 light pink. Beyond this natural level the soil matrix is formed by orange and reddish clay and sandstone of a color that approximates to 10 R 6/8 mottled with 7.5
R 8/3. With the help of the auger we cut through the clay and the sandstone to a depth of 60 centimeters and encountered no cultural material.
STP 11: Unit αH 1
After excavating Structure 3, unit BV 50, we came to realize that a significant deposition of volcanic ash occurred before the construction of the structures at Potrero Mendieta. Based on the discovery that some of the paste recipes for the ceramic wares included ash, on the presence
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of large boulders of ash being placed within the circular structures, and, notably, on the use of ash for the construction of the floor in Structure 1, it is evident that volcanic ash was quarried for a variety of uses from the deposits located at the site. However, the deposition of tephra at the site appears to be very uneven, with a layer at least 2m in depth at BX50 and at least 1m at BQ -
51 whereas BF -71, Structure 1 and Structure 2 show no evidence of tephra. With the intention or determining the consistency of tephra deposition along the northern edge of the site, we excavated a phone booth, αH1, in an inconspicuous area 8 meters west from the datum.
In the first 20 centimeters, we recovered some highly fragmented and thick ceramic sherds that were not stylistically identifiable. The top soil was sandy and easy to excavate.
Between 20 – 45 centimeters the soil matrix was formed of a dark grayish brown soil mottled with yellowish brown and very pale brown and red clusters of clay. As we expected from our experience in trench BV 50, BW 50, BX 50, BY 50 we began, from this point on, to see ash mixed with light brownish gray soil at around 75-95 centimeters in depth. Using the auger we continued to dig to a depth of 220 centimeters, all of which proved to be one stratum comprised of volcanic ash of a fine consistency and a pale yellow color. We were not able to reach any deeper with the auger.
Stratum I (Surface – 20 cm): 10 YR 5/2
Stratum II (20 – 45 cm): 10 YR 3/2, mottled with 10 YR 5/8, 8/3
Stratum III (45 – 75 cm): 2.5 Y 6/2
Stratum IV (75 – 95 cm): 2.5 Y 6/3, mottled with 10 YR 5/8, 8/3, 2.5 YR 5/8
Stratum V (95 – 220 cm): 5 Y 7/3
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Dating of the Site
Samples
Six charred samples were submitted to two laboratories for radiocarbon dating. The first sample was submitted to Beta Analytic Inc.1 This sample was recovered during the 2014 field season from the charcoal lens identified in Structure 2. The other five samples, obtained from
Structures 1, 2, and 3, were submitted to Direct AMS. These results were corrected for isotopic fractionation with 13C values measured on the prepared graphite using the AMS spectrometer.
The 13C value of -16. 3 in sample PM_ST1_DL24_92 may indicate the presence of C4 plants.
Presently, food crops such as maize and grasses (Poaceae sp.) are commonplace in the region.
Sonia Zarrillo (2012) in her analysis of charred residues from a sherd dated from the Middle
(1430-830 Cal BCE) to Late Formative (1300-300 BCE) site La Vega (Guffroy 1987) presented a strong 13C signature (-14.4%) for C4 plants (Zarrilo 2012: 230-231). La Vega is located 200 km south of Potrero Mendieta.
Interpretation of the Results
Six radiocarbon dates from charred material recovered during the archaeological excavations of Potrero Mendieta chronologically situate this context within the Formative
Period, between the Late and Middle Formative culture-historical sub-periods (Table 3-1;
Figures 3-48). During the field seasons of 2014 and 2015, we recovered 125 samples that were analyzed according to context, viability of material, and funding to subsidize the AMS analyses.
Unfortunately, due to these factors it was not possible to obtain more AMS dates.
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Table 3-1. AMS dates and 2 sigma calibration.
Direct AMS Sample ID (13C) Conventional 2 Calibrated
/ Beta Radiocarbon Age result 95% Analytic probability Inc. IDs per BP 1 error
mil
Beta-389575 PM_ST2_CT- -23.8 2860 30 Cal BP 3067 to 8_77 2878
D-AMS 013543 PM_ST2_CT- - 285 25 Cal BP 3063 to
9_40 24.3 9 2884
D-AMS 013544 PM_ST2_CT- - 301 25 Cal BP 3330 to
9_81 19.4 0 3080
D-AMS 013545 PM_ST2_CT- - 280 30 Cal BP 2996 to
10_89 28.2 5 2804
D-AMS PM_ST3_BX50_ - 243 32 Cal BP 2700 to
013547 30 24.0 3 2355
D-AMS PM_ST1_DL24_ -16.3 2996 31 Cal BP 3326 to
014351 92 3071
In his archaeological research on the Formative of the South American tropics, James
Zeidler noted that the generalized ―intercept method‖ for obtaining calibrated dates, as used by the leading AMS facilities and in the statistical software for calibration, only provides a temporal range for one radiocarbon assay and that this issue can be remedied by employing probabilistic calibration methods that take into account the Gaussian distribution of the uncalibrated results
(Zeidler et al. 1998:162-163). Bayesian statistical methods consider the entire range of the normal distributions that represent real-value random variables that span the uncalibrated chronological information on the calendrical time scale (Naylor and Smith 1988, Litton and
Leese 1991, Buck et al. 1991, Buck et al. 1992, and Buck et al. 1996). Thus far, in the
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radiocarbon dataset obtained from Potrero Mendieta, we are not able to apply a Bayesian model because we do not have a comprehensive dataset from which we can determine phases or horizons, based on a priori chronological information, from which we can estimate the beginning and end of the calendric dates for each phase.
In Structure 2, the highly fragmented and un-patterned presence of ceramic sherds found between 30 cm and 65 cm, considered in conjunction with the presence at 80 cm, the same depth as the ash floor in Structure 1, of a planned arrangement of stones in the center of the structure and the overlap in the uncalibrated chronological distribution of the samples from the bottom and upper strata of the deposits strongly suggest that after the intentional creation of the stone mound a refill event occurred. This interpretation, that ~45 cm of backfill was deposited within
Structure 2 for a total depth of approximately 80 cm, agrees with the stratigraphy outside the circular structures where repeatedly, after approximately 40 cm, either volcanic ash or a sterile layer of orange and brown clay were encountered. This stratigraphy of natural deposition being altered by backfill may or may not be the case in Structure 1, for which we only have one radiocarbon date. What is more, if the decorated ceramic rim that is stylistically cogent with
Valdivia, Phase 2 (2650-2400 BCE) ceramic style found below the ash floor in structure 1 were in fact associated with an occupation that precedes the backfill of the structures by at least 1500 years, the antiquity of the human occupation in the Jubones Basin would be coeval with the early ceramic societies of northern Andes and the South American lowlands.
Structure 3 is an example of how Bayesian statistical models in a larger dataset would be useful to calibrate a Gaussian distribution as the one from sample PM_ST3_BX50_30 with such a spread range. This date was recovered from a shallow context associated with the fallen wall.
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Figure 3-48. Probability histograms for the six calibrated AMS assays.
Artifacts Overview
During the field seasons of 2014 and 2015 we recovered 322 artifacts that include 273 ceramic sherds and 49 lithic fragments (Tables 3-2 and 3-3). The ceramics are very fragmented and therefore there were very few rims suitable for drawing. In figure 3-49 are depicted the representative profiles of the samples that underwent compositional analysis. The form, function and style of the wares recovered at Potrero Mendieta cannot be readily inferred until further archaeological excavations yield the remains of more surface area of the ceramic wares.
The lithic material consists of débitage or fragments of tools made from a variety of cherts. Again, the style and function of these findings are difficult to infer. Three of these fragments that are made from a very dark, translucent and glasslike chert were sent in 2014 to
Dr. Steven Shackley, Geoarchaeological XRF Laboratory for analysis. In these samples SiO2 is above 90%, which is typical of secondary siliceous sediments such as chert and chalcedony.
There are also scattered veins of these sediments in the geomorphological El Oro complex.
Other source materials for the stone tools include a light orange translucent chert and an opaque
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red jasper. On the northern side of the Jubones, specifically in the moorlands of the hamlet of La
Dolorosa de Chuqui, which as the crow flies is located approximately 25 kilometers north of
Uzhcurrumi, we located a vein of jasper that resembles the débitage recovered at the site.
Figure 3-49. Representative profiles of the pottery sherds recovered from Potrero Mendieta: a) PM_EC2014_06 b) PM_EC2014_04 c) PM_EC2014_08 d) PM_EC2015_08 e) PM_EC2014_03 f) PM_EC2015_04 g) PM_EC2015_05 h) PM_EC2014_09 i) PM_EC2014_07.
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Table 3-2. Summary of artifacts recovered during the field seasons of 2014 and 2015. Number Type Z Unit/Structure Field of Coordinates season samples 91 ceramic Y DL24 2014 21 ceramic N DL24 2014 10 lithic N DL24 2014 29 ceramic Y CT-7 2014 5 ceramic Y CT-7 2014 1 lithic N CT-7 2014 12 ceramic Y CT-8 2014 10 ceramic N CT-8 2014 10 lithic N CT-8 2014 19 ceramic Y DM23 2014 9 ceramic N DM23 2014 1 lithic N DM23 2014 14 ceramic Y DN23 2014 2 ceramic N DN23 2014 10 ceramic Y BF-71 2014 7 ceramic N BF-71 2014 4 ceramic Y BF-72 2014 4 ceramic N BF-72 2014 2 lithic N BF-72 2014 2 ceramic N FX83 2014 10 ceramic N DL23 2014 6 lithic N DL23 2014 5 lithic N CT-9 2015 4 lithic N CS-9 2015 2 lithic N CU-8 2015 1 lithic N CU-9 2015 2 lithic N CU-10 2015 2 lithic N CT-10 2015 2 lithic N BV50 2015 1 lithic N BW50 2015 18 ceramic N Structure 2 2015 4 ceramic N Structure 3 2015 2 ceramic N STP10 2015
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Table 3-3. Piece plotted artifacts. Sample IDs are assigned to the artifacts analyzed petrographically and chemically. Sample ID Type Point # Unit Stratum DBS Z Ceramic 3383 DL24 Stratum I 0-5 3.513 Ceramic 3384 DL24 Stratum I 0-5 3.496 PM_EC2014_27 Ceramic 2528 CT-7 Stratum I 0-10 3.46 Ceramic 2585 CT-8 Stratum I 0-8 3.458 Ceramic 2535 CT-7 Stratum I 0-10 3.455 Ceramic 2568 CT-7 Stratum I 0-10 3.455 Ceramic 2566 CT-7 Stratum I 0-10 3.454 Ceramic 2567 CT-7 Stratum I 0-10 3.451 Ceramic 2534 CT-7 Stratum I 0-10 3.45 Ceramic 2570 CT-7 Stratum I 0-10 3.445 Ceramic 2533 CT-7 Stratum I 0-10 3.444 PM_EC2014_24 Ceramic 2584 CT-8 Stratum I 0-8 3.443 Ceramic 2532 CT-7 Stratum I 0-10 3.441 Ceramic 2586 CT-8 Stratum I 0-8 3.44 Ceramic 2583 CT-8 Stratum I 0-8 3.439 Ceramic 2576 CT-7 Stratum I 0-10 3.437 Ceramic 2531 CT-7 Stratum I 0-10 3.435 Ceramic 2588 CT-8 Stratum I 0-8 3.435 PM_EC2014_09 Ceramic 2589 CT-8 Stratum I 0-8 3.435 Ceramic 2527 CT-7 Stratum I 0-10 3.434 Ceramic 2572 CT-7 Stratum I 0-10 3.43 Ceramic 2571 CT-7 Stratum I 0-10 3.428 Ceramic 2573 CT-7 Stratum I 0-10 3.423 PM_EC2014_30 Ceramic 2587 CT-8 Stratum I 0-8 3.422 PM_EC2014_29 Ceramic 2574 CT-7 Stratum I 0-10 3.42 Ceramic 2569 CT-7 Stratum I 0-10 3.418 Ceramic 2582 CT-7 Stratum I 0-10 3.418 Ceramic 2525 CT-7 Stratum I 0-10 3.417 Ceramic 2529 CT-7 Stratum I 0-10 3.417 Ceramic 2575 CT-7 Stratum I 0-10 3.416 Ceramic 2530 CT-7 Stratum I 0-10 3.415 Ceramic 2579 CT-7 Stratum I 0-10 3.407 Ceramic 2581 CT-7 Stratum I 0-10 3.405 Ceramic 2526 CT-7 Stratum I 0-10 3.403 Ceramic 2565 CT-7 Stratum I 0-10 3.403
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Table 3-3. Continued.
Sample ID Type Point # Unit Stratum DBS Z Ceramic 2564 CT-7 Stratum I 0-10 3.397 Ceramic 2563 CT-7 Stratum I 0-10 3.389 Ceramic 2580 CT-7 Stratum I 0-10 3.386 Ceramic 2590 CT-8 Stratum I 0-10 3.261 Ceramic 3419 DL24 Stratum III 30-40 3.222 Ceramic 3405 DN23 Stratum I 0-10 3.159 Ceramic 3414 DN23 Stratum II 10-20 3.116 Ceramic 3406 DN23 Stratum I 0-10 3.111 Ceramic 3412 DN23 Stratum I 0-10 3.104 Ceramic 3411 DN23 Stratum I 0-10 3.097 PM_EC2014_20 Ceramic 3407 DN23 Stratum I 0-10 3.091 Ceramic 3444 DL24 Stratum IV 40-50 3.076 Ceramic 3415 DN23 Stratum II 10-20 3.075 Ceramic 3447 DL24 Stratum IV 40-50 3.074 Ceramic 4215 DL23 Stratum III 30-40 3.0513 Ceramic 4214 DL23 Stratum III 30-40 3.0503 Ceramic 3446 DL24 Stratum III 30-40 3.047 Ceramic 3464 DL24 Stratum V 50-55 3.047 Ceramic 3445 DL24 Stratum VI 55-60 3.045 Ceramic 3453 DL24 Stratum VI 55-60 3.041 Ceramic 3410 DN23 Stratum I 0-10 3.037 Ceramic 3420 DM23 Stratum I 0-10 3.036 Ceramic 3449 DL24 Stratum VI 55-60 3.033 Ceramic 3454 DL24 Stratum VI 55-60 3.032 Ceramic 3448 DL24 Stratum VI 55-60 3.03 Ceramic 3451 DL24 Stratum VI 55-60 3.023 Ceramic 3450 DL24 Stratum VI 55-60 3.018 Ceramic 3408 DN23 Stratum I 0-10 3.016 Ceramic 3413 DN23 Stratum I 0-10 3.016 Ceramic 3456 DL24 Stratum VI 55-60 3.007 Ceramic 3409 DN23 Stratum I 0-10 3.007 PM_EC2014_21 Ceramic 3418 DN23 Stratum II 10-20 2.999 Ceramic 3463 DL24 Stratum VI 55-60 2.993 PM_EC2014_19 Ceramic 3455 DL24 Stratum VI 55-60 2.99 Ceramic 3457 DL24 Stratum VI 55-60 2.99 Ceramic 3452 DL24 Stratum VI 55-60 2.982
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Table 3-3. Continued.
Sample ID Type Point Unit Stratum DBS Z # Ceramic 3417 DN23 Stratum II 0-10 2.972 Ceramic 3416 DN23 Stratum II 0-10 2.971 Ceramic 3458 DL24 Stratum VI 55-60 2.963 Ceramic 3459 DL24 Stratum VI 55-60 2.954 Ceramic 3465 DL24 Stratum VI 55-60 2.939 Ceramic 3462 DM23 Stratum VI 55-60 2.936 Ceramic 3460 DL24 Stratum VI 55-60 2.928 Ceramic 3461 DM23 Stratum VI 55-60 2.917 PM_EC2014_03 Ceramic 3471 DL24 Stratum VI 55-60 2.912 Ceramic 3468 DL24 Stratum VI 55-60 2.89 Ceramic 3476 DM23 Stratum VI 55-60 2.883 Ceramic 3469 DL24 Stratum VI 55-60 2.879 Ceramic 3474 DM23 Stratum VI 55-60 2.879 Ceramic 3473 DM23 Stratum VI 55-60 2.876 Ceramic 3467 DL24 Stratum VI 55-60 2.873 Ceramic 4569 CT-7 Stratum V 65-75 2.873 Ceramic 3472 DL24 Stratum VI 55-60 2.872 Ceramic 4597 CS-9 Stratum V 65-75 2.872 Ceramic 3484 DL24 Stratum VI 55-60 2.871 Ceramic 3486 DL24 Stratum VI 55-60 2.868 Ceramic 3466 DL24 Stratum VI 55-60 2.866 Ceramic 3480 DL24 Stratum VI 55-60 2.864 Ceramic 3479 DM23 Stratum VI 55-60 2.862 Ceramic 3503 DL24 Stratum VI 55-60 2.855 Ceramic 3475 DM23 Stratum VI 55-60 2.854 Ceramic 3500 DL24 Stratum VI 55-60 2.853 Ceramic 3470 DM23 Stratum VI 55-60 2.852 Ceramic 3504 DL24 Stratum VI 55-60 2.845 Ceramic 3478 DM23 Stratum VI 55-60 2.845 Ceramic 2984 CT-8 Stratum V 65-75 2.844 Ceramic 3487 DL24 Stratum VI 55-60 2.84 Ceramic 3482 DL24 Stratum VI 55-60 2.838 Ceramic 3485 DL24 Stratum VI 55-60 2.838 Ceramic 3502 DL24 Stratum VI 55-60 2.834 Ceramic 3483 DL24 Stratum VI 55-60 2.832 Ceramic 2985 CT-8 Stratum V 65-75 2.83
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Table 3-3. Continued.
Sample ID Type Point # Unit Stratum DBS Z Ceramic 3493 DL24 Stratum VI 55 -60 2.824 Ceramic 3481 DL24 Stratum VI 55-60 2.823 Ceramic 4614 CS-9 Stratum V 60-65 2.822 PM_EC2014_15 Ceramic 3499 DL24 Stratum VI 55-60 2.819 Ceramic 3477 DM23 Stratum VI 55-60 2.819 Ceramic 3495 DL24 Stratum VI 55-60 2.813 Ceramic 3494 DL24 Stratum VI 55-60 2.811 Ceramic 3501 DL24 Stratum VI 55-60 2.811 PM_EC2014_22 Ceramic 2990 CT-8 Stratum V 65-75 2.808 Ceramic 3496 DL24 Stratum VI 55-60 2.806 Ceramic 3492 DL24 Stratum VI 55-60 2.803 Ceramic 3491 DL24 Stratum VI 55-60 2.802 Ceramic 3498 DL24 Stratum VI 55-60 2.797 PM_EC2014_23 Ceramic 2991 CT-8 Stratum V 65-75 2.794 Ceramic 3497 DL24 Stratum VI 55-60 2.78 Ceramic 3490 DL24 Stratum VI 55-60 2.776 Ceramic 3488 DL24 Stratum VI 55-60 2.774 Ceramic 3505 DL24 Stratum VI 55-60 2.76 Ceramic 3489 DM23 Stratum VI 55-60 2.759 Ceramic 3507 DL24 Stratum VI 55-60 2.743 Ceramic 3506 DL24 Stratum VI 55-60 2.738 Lithic 4572 CT-10 Stratum VI 75-85 2.725 Ceramic 3630 DL24 Stratum VII 82-90 2.67 Ceramic 3617 DL24 Stratum VII 82-90 2.668 Ceramic 3629 DL24 Stratum VII 82-90 2.667 Ceramic 3641 DL24 Stratum VII 90-95 2.663 Ceramic 3620 DL24 Stratum VII 82-90 2.662 Ceramic 3628 DL24 Stratum VII 82-90 2.66 Ceramic 3618 DL24 Stratum VII 82-90 2.659 Ceramic 3640 DL24 Stratum VII 90-95 2.659 Ceramic 3644 DL24 Stratum VII 90-95 2.658 Ceramic 3639 DL24 Stratum VII 90-95 2.657 Ceramic 3642 DL24 Stratum VII 90-95 2.656 Ceramic 3643 DL24 Stratum VII 90-95 2.656 Ceramic 3638 DL24 Stratum VII 90-95 2.654 Ceramic 3646 DL24 Stratum VII 90-95 2.652 Ceramic 3624 DL24 Stratum VII 82-90 2.647
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Table 3-3. Continued.
Sample ID Type Point # Unit Stratum DBS Z Ceramic 3619 DL24 Stratum VII 82-90 2.646 Ceramic 3623 DL24 Stratum VII 82-90 2.639 Ceramic 3625 DL24 Stratum VII 82-90 2.639 Ceramic 3627 DL24 Stratum VII 82-90 2.637 Ceramic 3621 DL24 Stratum VII 82-90 2.632 Ceramic 3645 DL24 Stratum VII 90-95 2.624 Ceramic 3626 DL24 Stratum VII 82-90 2.622 Ceramic 3632 DL24 Stratum VII 90-95 2.614 Ceramic 3633 DL24 Stratum VII 90-95 2.611 Ceramic 3622 DL24 Stratum VII 82-90 2.61 Ceramic 3637 DL24 Stratum VII 90-95 2.609 Ceramic 3634 DL24 Stratum VII 90-95 2.608 Ceramic 3631 DL24 Stratum VII 90-95 2.605 Ceramic 3635 DL24 Stratum VII 90-95 2.603 Ceramic 3636 DL24 Stratum VII 90-95 2.603 PM_EC2014_11 Ceramic 3648 DL24 Stratum VII 95-100 2.572 PM_EC2014_12 Ceramic 3649 DL24 Stratum VII 95-100 2.569 PM_EC2014_10 Ceramic 3647 DL24 Stratum VII 95-100 2.554 PM_EC2014_14 Ceramic 3651 DL24 Stratum VII 95-100 2.554 PM_EC2014_13 Ceramic 3650 DL24 Stratum VII 95-100 2.547 Ceramic 2198 BF-71 Stratum I 0-8 -1.593 Ceramic 2194 BF-71 Stratum I 0-8 -1.597 Ceramic 2197 BF-71 Stratum I 0-8 -1.601 Ceramic 2193 BF-71 Stratum I 0-8 -1.604 Ceramic 2196 BF-71 Stratum I 0-8 -1.612 Ceramic 2195 BF-71 Stratum I 0-8 -1.654 Ceramic 2268 BF-71 Stratum I 0-8 -1.659 Ceramic 2192 BF-71 Stratum I 0-8 -1.68 Ceramic 2302 BF-71 Stratum II 8 to 20 -1.706 Ceramic 2305 BF-72 Stratum II 8 to 20 -1.721 Ceramic 2267 BF-71 Stratum I 0-8 -1.74 Ceramic 2303 BF-72 Stratum II 8 to 20 -1.776 Ceramic 2304 BF-72 Stratum II 8 to 20 -1.809 Ceramic 2384 BF-72 Stratum II 8 to 20 -1.823 Ceramic 2991 CT-8 Stratum V 65-75 2.808 Ceramic 2990 CT-8 Stratum V 65-75 2.797 Ceramic 2984 CT-8 Stratum V 65-75 2.844
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Table 3-3. Continued.
Sample ID Type Point # Unit Stratum DBS Z Ceramic 2985 CT-8 Stratum V 65-75 2.83
The Construction Practices at Potrero Mendieta
Although only three structures were sampled during the archaeological excavation of
Potrero Mendieta, one can extrapolate, based on the dimensions of the circles and the weights of the boulders, the amount of labor (transport and construction) that was entailed in the construction of each structure. The circumference of the structure is approximately 25 meters and each boulder measures between 20 and 40 centimeters in their longest side. The walls are approximately one meter in height and required the assembly of at least 5 rows of river rocks.
As such, there should be between 300 and 600 river stones in each individual circle, without counting the concentric walls. Each boulder weighs approximately 40 pounds. It is plausible that a strong person could carry one boulder each trip from the river, up the steep and treacherous hill to the field. Each trip would have taken approximately one hour by foot, that is, without carrying much weight. We can speculate that building one wall of a structure would have required 600 man-hours. There are at least 5 structures that likely have multiple walls. The excavations at Structure 3 showed the existence of 3 concentric walls. If the five identified structures all are of a similar construction, there would be necessary at least 9,000 man-hours – only to build the known circular structures. A hundred individuals would have needed at least 10 days to build the structures, in the best of circumstances. At this point of the investigation it is not possible to assess whether transient visitors or locals assembled these edifications or the pace of these labors.
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Regarding the interior of the structures, the ash infill in structure 2 and the ash floor in structure 1 suggest two different depositional practices. The infill appears to be an episode of closure of the structure, and the ash floor might have had a longer life history while the structures were in use. The Valdivia sherd that was recovered from below the ash floor might have been an heirloom from the coast, a piece of a place (sensu Bradley 2000) that referenced a historical association with a different region. The ceramics and clays recovered at Potrero Mendieta also offer a line of evidence to substantiate inter-regional interaction that was not simply the result of an exchange economy but of symbolic associations with other places.
Notes
1 From the Beta Analytic Inc. Radiocarbon Dating Result For Sample PM_CT-8_77/388396 SUPPLEMENT, sample Beta-389575:
―Dates are reported as CYBP (radiocarbon years before ―present‖ = AD 1950). By international convention, the modern reference standard was 95% the 14C activity of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Oxalic Acid (SRM 4990C) and calculated using the Libby 14C half-life (5568). Quoted errors represent 1 relative standard deviation (68% probability) counting errors based on the combined measurements if the sample, background, and modern reference standards. Measured 13C/12/12C ratios (delta 13C) were calculated relative to the PDB-1 standard. The Conventional Radiocarbon Age represents the Measured Radiocarbon Age corrected for isotopic fractionation, calculated using the delta 13C. The Conventional Radiocarbon Age is not calendar calibrated. When available the Calendar Calibrated result is calculated from the Conventional adiocarbon Age and is listed as the ―Two Sigma Calibrated esult‖ for each sample.‖ (Beta Analytic Inc. 2014)
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CHAPTER 4 SOCIAL INTERACTION AND GEOLOGICAL KNOWLEDGE: AN APPLICATION OF CERAMIC PETROGRAPHIC ANALYSIS OF THE WARES AND CLAYS FROM THE POTRERO MENDIETA SITE (~1,000 BCE)
This chapter comprises the data from the compositional analyses of samples of the pottery and clays recovered from Potrero Mendieta. The null hypothesis that is tested through the compositional analysis is that the ceramics recovered at Potrero Mendieta were of local provenance, notwithstanding the location of the site in an ecotone that connects different biogeographic regions. The alternative hypothesis states that the analyzed sample of ceramics and clays from Potrero Mendieta do not represent components of local origin. All analyses were carried out and reported by Ann Cordell (2017) in the Florida Museum of Natural History
Ceramic Technology Laboratory (FLMNH-CTL). These analyses evaluate both the compositional and textural variability of the samples and consider the possible sources of pottery from the mineralogical and petrographic composition of the matrices and tempers used in the elaboration of these wares. The result of these analyses are compared with an extant petrographic analysis from coastal Ecuador by Maria Masucci and Allison Macfarlane (1997) and discussed in terms of the geological configuration of the region and the archaeological contexts from which the samples were recovered.
Petrographic Analysis of Pottery and Clay Samples from Potrero Mendieta
Through the petrographic analysis of 18 pottery sherds and two comparative clay samples, this study evaluates both the compositional and textural variability in the samples and the possible sources of pottery (Table A-1). The explanation of the methods and the summary of the temper categories reference directly the analyses and the report produced by Cordell (2017).
The 18 pottery samples were chosen from 273 sherds and represent 36% of the samples chosen for NAA analysis. Most of the samples recovered from Potrero Mendieta are highly fragmented
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and disintegrate to the touch. The samples that were analyzed were recovered from each one of the sectors sampled during the archaeological excavations in the seasons of 2014 and 2015:
Circular structure 1, circular structure 2, circular structure 3 and the reservoir (structure 4) (Table
A-1). The two clay samples were chosen because they represent the largest and most uniform clay deposits encountered at the site. The two clay samples were recovered from the reservoir located in the eastern sector of the site.
Preparations of the Sample and Analytical Procedures
First, the samples were thin sectioned to make them suitable for the microscopic analysis, and the clay samples were fired into briquettes to facilitate the thin sectioning.1 The samples were then rough sorted into temper categories. These categories were determined on the basis of gross visual differences (Table A-2). In order to quantify the relative abundance of temper and other inclusions in the samples, the point-counting procedure was done using a petrographic microscope with a mechanical stage 2 as recommended by Stoltman (1989, 1991, 2001). The counting intervals used at this stage were of 1 mm by 1mm or 1 mm by 0.5 mm, depending on the total area of the sherd represented in the thin section. Each point or stop of the stage was assigned to one of the following categories: clay matrix, void, silt particles, and very fine through very coarse aplastics of varying compositions. The size of the points in the aplastics category was estimated with an eyepiece micrometer in direct reference to the Wentworth Scale (Rice
2015:42). For cases in which fewer than 175 points were counted (more than half of the samples analyzed from Potrero Mendieta), the thin sections were rotated 180o on the mechanical stage and counted a second time (after Stoltman 2001:306). Most of the point counts were made using the 10X objective.
The thin sections were examined again for assessing the relative frequency of minor accessory minerals. Here the 25X objective was used to search for presence and relative
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frequency of siliceous microfossils. The relative frequency of minor accessory minerals and siliceous microfossils are recorded in Table A-3. The thin sections were also examined to evaluate sorting and roundness of aplastics, matrix color,3 and sherd thickness (Table A-3). By convention, the total point counts exclude the number of counted voids (Stoltman 1991:107).
The raw point-count data are listed in tables A-6 and A-7, and the percentage data are listed in
Table A-8. The point-count data from these analyses were used to calculate a variant of
Stoltman‘s sand size index (2001:314) for bulk composition particle size. This variant considers the size difference between very fine and fine inclusions.4 The particle size data and the indices are listed in Table A-9.
Prominent Mineralogical Constituents
The prominent monocrystalline minerals in the assemblage include quartz, untwined feldspar, plagioclase, amphibole, and biotite mica. The first three minerals have felsic compositions, rich in silica, whereas the latter two have mafic compositions, rich in iron and magnesium. The monocrystalline minerals in some samples represent phenocrysts eroded out of, or otherwise disassociated from, parent porphyritic volcanic rock.
The prominent rock fragments are igneous plutonic and volcanic in origin. Igneous plutonic rock fragments include polyminerallic grains composed of two or more mineral species of those listed above, and polycrystalline (but monominerallic) grains composed of quartz, feldspar, plagioclase, and amphibole. Most of these plutonic igneous rock fragments have felsic
(granitic) to intermediate (granodioritic) compositions. A few grains identified in some of the samples may have metamorphic origin, but remain minor constituents. The volcanic rock fragments include homogeneous and porphyritic textures with siliceous (rhyolitic) to intermediate (andesitic) compositions. A few grains may have more mafic compositions.
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Accessory constituents in many samples include muscovite mica, epidote, and black opaque minerals as well as ferric nodules. Siliceous microfossils such as phytoliths and sponge spicules, which may be naturally present in some clays, are prevalent in a few samples. Two samples have rare grog temper.
Dr. Michael Perfit, Distinguished Professor of Geology at the University of Florida, provided both corroboration to findings by Cordell (2017) and insight regarding the identification of some rock fragments. Overall, there is overlap with some temper types described for pottery samples examined from southwest coastal Ecuador (Masucci and
Macfarlane 1997), however the present sample lacks the prevalence of sedimentary rock fragments.
Temper Categories
The 18 pottery samples were sorted into three temper groupings. These categories were determined on the basis of mineral and rock fragment composition as: felsic, mafic, and volcanic.
The temper sources for the felsic and mafic groups have igneous plutonic geological origins
(n=13 samples), and the temper source for the volcanic group has igneous volcanic origins (n=5 samples) (Table A-2). The individual temper categories are summarized in Table A-2. Other physical properties are listed in Table A-3 and petrographic data are summarized by gross temper in Table A-4. Representative photomicrographs of pottery and clay samples, taken at 2.5x magnification, are provided in figure 4-1.
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(a) (b)
(c) (d)
(e) (f)
(g) (h)
Figure 4-1. Photomicrographs of illustrative samples of temper and fabric groups: a) Felsic AB (MD09); b) Felsic A (MD02); c) Mafic A (MD03) d) Mafic AB (MD13); e) Volcanic A (MD01); f) Volcanic B (MD05); g) Clay B (MD10); h) Clay A (MD11) (Photos by Ann Cordell).
Felsic Temper
The intermediate and silica-rich igneous plutonic rocks, such as granodiorite and granite are the primary temper source for the felsic group. The principal constituents include granordiorite/granitic rock fragments, and monocrystalline and polycrystalline grains of quartz, and monocrystalline grains of feldspar, plagioclase, with mafic amphibole as the principal accessory mineral constituents (Table A-4; Table A-8). Muscovite mica, ferric nodules and black constituents are also minor accessory constituents in many samples. Siliceous microfossils
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are absent in this grouping except for two samples. Volcanic rock fragments are a minor accessory constituent in two samples; this suggests that the temper supply had a few random constituents of different geologic origin.
Most felsic samples show poor sorting with multimodal occurrence of the size ranges
(Table A-3; A-9). This means that the distribution of grain size of sediments is mixed and presents a continuous probability distribution with two or more modes; each mode represents a size range for a grain of sediment. Most samples are relatively homogeneous in relation to particle size variability and exhibit nearly equal proportions of very fine and fine versus medium through coarser grain sizes. The mean bulk particle size index is 1.66 (Table A-5). For most of the felsic-tempered samples, the constituents are predominantly angular to sub-rounded, with angular to sub-angular morphology being the most common (Table A-3; Figure 4-3). The matrix color variation indicates that reddish-firing iron rich clays are represented by the group (Figure
4-4). The mean thickness for the felsic grouping is 7.4 mm (Table A-3; Figure 4-5).
Within the Felsic group there is some degree of composition variability. For instance, she indicates that for three samples (MD02, MD17, MD18) the parent rock may be more felsic
(granitic) than intermediate (granodioritic). Mafic amphibole and biotite grains have higher relative frequency in other samples, indicating more intermediate compositions. Some samples have more amphibole (MD07, MD09, MD12, MD14), whereas others have more biotite (MD02,
MD06). Variation in relative abundance of felsic and mafic components of intermediate granordiorite composition can account for much of the observed differences in most of these other felsic samples. However, it is likely that more felsic granitic rocks were in the temper source mix, possibly accounting for the abundance of quartz in most of the samples (Table A-4,
Table A-8). Whereas these compositional subgroups have been determined on the basis of
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petrographic variability, it is unlikely that such subgroups could have been distinguished macroscopically or with low (10x).
Mafic Temper
Mafic-rich intermediate igneous plutonic rocks such as granodiorite or diorite are the principal temper source(s) for four samples. The temper constituents include a few felsic rock fragments, and common quartz, feldspars, amphibole, biotite, and variable plagioclase (Table A-
4 and Table A-8). Biotite is especially common in two samples (MD03 and MD04) and occurs in relatively coarse particle sizes. It is likely, however, that tonalite, an intermediate igneous plutonic variant of granodiorite, is the temper source rock in these specific samples (Figure 1-P,
Mafic Group, MED03). The rock source for biotite would have appeared dark and sparkly; this may have played a role in the selection of biotite outcrops as a temper source. Plutonic igneous rocks of more felsic compositions may be present in most samples, likely as incidental constituents to the primary temper source. Intermediate andesitic volcanic rock fragments are also frequent in MD03. The percentage of volcanics is less than the sum of the mafic and felsic grains. That said, the amount present in the temper might signify intentional addition rather that an incidental component in the temper source. Siliceous microfossils were occasional constituents in one of the four samples. The predominance of mafic constituents would be likely recognizable with low magnification; at least, the dark mafic constituents should appear different from the lighter colored felsic constituents. The predominance of mafic constituents would surely be identifiable with low magnification, because at least the dark mafic constituents should look different from the light-colored felsic constituents. Siliceous microfossils were identified in one of the four samples, MED013. Figure 1-P provides representative images of mafic pastes, texture and composition.
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Most mafic samples show poor sorting with multimodal occurrence of the size ranges
(Table A-3). In comparison to the pattern identified in the felsic samples, the mafic group is relatively homogeneous with respect to the variability in particle size, and exhibits nearly equal proportions of very fine through coarser particle sizes (Figure 4-2). Likewise, there is nearly an equal division between very fine and fine versus medium through coarser particle size. The mean bulk particle size index is 1.61 (Table A-5). For most mafic-tempered samples, the constituents are mostly sub-rounded with angular and sub-angular morphologies being the most common
(Table A-3; Figure 4-3). The matrix color variation identified in most of the mafic samples show that these wares were made from reddish-firing iron rich clays (Figure 4-4). The mean thickness for this grouping is 5.8 mm (Table A-3, Figure 4-5).
80.0
70.0
60.0
50.0 %vf %f 40.0 %med 30.0 %cvcg
20.0
10.0
0.0 Sample % felsic mafic volcanic clays
Figure 4-2. In comparison to the pattern identified in the felsic samples, the mafic group is relatively homogeneous with respect to the variability in particle size.
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100.0
90.0
80.0
70.0
60.0 R to SA SR to SA 50.0 SA to SR 40.0 A to SR SA, A to SR 30.0
20.0
10.0
0.0 felsic mafic volcanic clay Sample %
Figure 4-3. For most of the felsic-tempered samples, the constituents are predominantly angular to sub-rounded, with angular to sub-angular morphology being the most common.
Volcanic Temper
The principal temper sources for the third grouping is intermediate (andesitic) to siliceous
(rhyolitic) volcanic rocks. Four of the five samples identified as volcanic tempers contain occasional to frequent siliceous microfossils. Two of the samples have rare grog temper. Most of the monocrystalline grains of quartz, feldspars, plagioclase, and amphibole that were identified in these samples probably represent phenocrysts that eroded out of an intermediate porphyritic volcanic parent rock such as andesite. Some of the samples exhibit ferric nodules and opaque grains, which likely represent altered, oxidized volcanic rock fragments and mafic grains.
Felsic and/or intermediate plutonic igneous rocks are present in most samples; these are probably incidental constituents to the primary temper source. Their presence in the temper mix may account for a few grains of such rock types and an abundance of quartz in some samples. The volcanic temper group is otherwise heterogeneous in gross volcanic composition.
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Two of the volcanic samples, MD15 and MD08, are characterized by volcanic rock fragments and mafic amphibole grains and rock fragments containing amphibole (Figures 3a and
3b) (Table A-4, Table A-9). Some volcanic fragments may have more mafic or basaltic composition in which some phenocrysts have transformed into epidote. These latter rock fragments account for the ―mafic rock‖ point counts listed in Tables A-6 -A-8. Siliceous microfossils are occasional to frequent constituents in both samples.
A third volcanic-tempered sherd (MD19) is similar to these samples, except that it is present in fewer mafic grains. An intermediate porphyritic volcanic source such as andesite is a plausible temper source for this sample. MD19 is characterized by the prominence of monocrystalline phenocrysts of zoned plagioclase (Table A-4; Table A-8). Zoning is a texture developed in solid-solution minerals that can be identified optically by the color of the extinction angle of the mineral from the core to the rim. Siliceous microfossils are occasional to frequent constituents in this sample. This sample also displays a very coarse grog fragment (or cluster of three smaller fragments) in its paste; this may represent an incidental or accidental addition to the clay during paste preparation.
In two samples (MD01 and MD05), several unusual intermediate to siliceous volcanic rock fragments were identified. In crossed polars, the rock fragments show an unusual micrographic texture that is prevalent in plutonic igneous rocks. Michael Perfit asserts that the rock fragments have volcanic origin but that they have undergone some degree of recrystallization that resulted in atypical volcanic textures (M. Perfit, personal communication,
October 2016). In fact, most grains in these samples were recorded as felsic igneous rock fragments during point counting (Tables A-6 and A-7), which explains the relatively high percentage listed for these samples in Table A-4 and Table A-8. Both samples show alteration of
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some grains to epidote, especially sample MD05. Epidote is a mineral of secondary origin. In this case, it might be the product of hydrothermal alteration that recrystallized siliceous rocks into intermediate volcanics. Siliceous microfossils are occasional to frequent constituents in one of the two samples. Sample MD01 also has a single very coarse grog fragment in its paste; this may represent an incidental or accidental addition to the clay during paste preparation.
In comparison to most felsic and mafic samples, three of the five volcanic samples are more moderately sorted, but still exhibit multimodal size distributions (Table A-3, Table A-9).
Most of these samples have higher percentages of very fine through medium grain sizes and significantly lower percentages of coarser sizes (Table A-5 and Figure A-1). The mean bulk particle size index is 1.46 (Table A-5). In these volcanic samples, roundness is mostly sub- angular to sub-rounded and presents relatively fewer occurrences of definitively angular grains
(Table A-3 and Figure 4-3). The variation of color in the matrix indicates that clays that are represented in the sample have variable iron content (Table A-3). For instance, two of these samples appear to have produced a reddish-firing corresponding to felsic and mafic samples, whereas the other three appear to have lower iron content (Figure 4-4). The mean thickness for members of the volcanic member group is 5.0 mm (Table A-3, Figure 4-5).
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100.0
90.0
80.0
70.0
60.0 high iron 50.0 low iron? 40.0
30.0
20.0
10.0
0.0 felsic mafic volcanic clay Sample %
Figure 4-4. The matrix color variation identified in most of the mafic samples show that these wares were made from reddish-firing iron rich clays.
60.0
50.0
40.0
felsic 30.0 mafic volcanic 20.0
10.0
0.0 3-4 mm 5 mm 6 mm 7-8 mm >9 mm Sample %
Figure 4-5. Mean thickness of the samples.
Microscopic observation, with low magnification, permits us to distinguish the volcanic rock temper from crystalline felsic and mafic tempers based on shape/roundness because this
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temper exhibits a more amorphous and granular texture than the other groups. Considering the preponderance of monocrystalline grains in MD19, this sample could have been initially categorized as felsic if it were only observed macroscopically or with low magnification lenses.
Clay Samples
Two clay samples were recovered from the center of the reservoir associated with the architectural complex at Potrero Mendieta. The reservoir was plausibly constructed in direct association to the rest of the complex in antiquity. Presently, during the dry season, the
Mendieta family fills the reservoir to a depth of approximately two feet so the cows that are pasturing can drink from it. From May through August of 2015 the area suffered an inordinate dry spell. In addition, seeing the reservoir dry during fieldwork, the cows were moved to a different pasture across the river at some point, so Marco Asanza and I managed to excavate
STP10, located at the approximate center of the reservoir. After removing the cow dung and the incipient grass, Marco excavated a 1 x1 m unit, STP10. At 60 cm DBS we identified a clean clay deposit of light gray color (10YR 7/2) and took a sample that appears in both the INAA and petrographic reports as MED-10/MD10. At 85 cm DBS we recovered a couple of pottery sherds that appeared to be of the same composition, albeit there were not suitable refits; this pottery sample appears in both the INAA and petrographic reports as MED-12/MD12. At 110 cm DBS we identified a clean clay deposit of a similar coloration and took a sample that appears in both the INAA and petrographic reports as MED-11/MD11. Before we reached the archaeologically sterile deposits, at 130 cm DBS we recovered a large sherd of approximately 20 by 10 cm that appeared to have been part of the base of a vessel; in both the INAA and petrographic reports as
MED-13/MD13 (Figures 2.16, 2.17, 2.18). Two clay samples (MD10, MD11) were fired into briquettes at the Ceramic Technology Lab in the FLMNH to obtain thin sections that were subsequently analyzed for comparison to the pottery samples. Both samples are characterized by
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a very small percentage of aplastics, relative to the pottery, with most being silt-sized grains5
(Table A-4, Table A-8). Larger aplastics represent less than 10% in the compositions of these two clay samples. Most the few coarser grains that were observed in these samples appear to be polycrystalline grains of felsic composition, which might be volcanic in origin. Monocrystalline feldspar and ferric nodules were observed in MD11, whereas monocrystalline grains in MD10 were not intersected during point counting. These two samples, although of close provenience, had some notable differences in other respects. Sample MD10 is white-firing, which indicates low iron content, and has frequent siliceous microfossils (phytoliths, sponge spicules and rare diatoms) (Table A-3). Based on the presence of sponge spicules and diatoms the context from which the sample was recovered was partially or periodically aquatic, corroborates. In contrast, sample MD11 is red-firing, indicating higher iron content, and generally lacks siliceous microfossils (one possible phytolith was observed).
Discussion of the Results
The diversity in temper composition described in the petrographic analysis is obscured, for most cases, in a ternary plot of bulk compositions (after Graham and Midgley 2000 in which the percentages of matrix,6 very fine and fine ―sand‖ and temper are compared (Figure 5-6). In this diagram, the categories of ―sand‖ and ―temper‖ are strictly particle size designations and do not account for composition. Very fine and fine Wentworth sizes make up the ―sand‖ component; the coarser sizes (medium through very coarse and granule sizes) are classified as
―temper‖ (see discussions in ice 2015:85-87 and Stoltman 1989:149-150; 1991:109-111). This ternary plot shows that most of the pottery, apart from one volcanic tempered sample, is homogeneous in terms of grain sizes, with most samples plotting in the same region of the triangle. The two clay samples are clearly distinguishable from the pottery, because of their finer texture and absence of ―temper.‖ Although there are significant compositional differences in the
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pottery samples, this bulk composition diagram indicates a gross homogeneity in desired or achieved paste recipes, even when the compositions differ markedly. Despite this homogeneity, there are statistically significant differences in the mean matrix percentages between felsic and volcanic samples and between mafic and volcanic samples; the volcanics, however, exhibit higher matrix percentages (Table A-4).
Generally, homogeneity in pottery increases when the additive or ―temper‖ is removed from the analysis (fabric or paste composition, after Stoltman 1991), as shown in Figure 4-7, where the pottery plots closer together and their position shifts towards the matrix region of the triangle. This ternary diagram plots the percentages of matrix, silt (microfossils) and very fine and fine ―sand,‖ of which the latter might be considered hypothetically to be a naturally occurring constituent of clay sources. Despite that this plot presents a hypothetical scenario in which the composition of the matrix or fabric of the clays is separated from the temper, the clays used for the elaboration of pottery are still coarser than the comparative samples. However, when the fine sands are excluded from the analysis, the pottery and clay samples cluster more closely together (Figure 4-7). These similarities in fabric between the samples and the comparative clays should not be taken as unambiguous evidence that these clays were collected to produce these wares.
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% matrix+
bulk composition by temper category felsic mafic volcanic clay samples
% temper % vff “sand”
Figure 4-6. Ternary plot of bulk compositions (after Graham and Midgley 2000) in which the percentages of matrix, very fine and fine ―sand‖ and temper are compared. In this diagram, the categories of ―sand‖ and ―temper‖ are strictly particle size designations and do not account for composition.
The relative homogeneity in this sample is also illustrated in the ternary plot of bulk aplastic particle size variability (Figure 4-8; also see Figure 4-2, Table A-5, Table A-9). The apexes of the triangle indicate the percentages of very fine and fine sizes (vff), medium and coarse through granule sizes (cvcg). Most of the samples, particularly volcanics, are relatively homogenous in relation to particle size variability. Of the three temper categories, the volcanic is the most diverse with respect to particle sizes. Such homogeneity, which is also manifested in the sorting and roundness in the felsic and mafic samples, is apparent in desired or achieved paste recipes. Most of the analyzed samples present poor sorting with multimodal occurrence of the grain size ranges (Table A-3, Table A-9). The percentages of very fine, fine, medium, and coarser constituents are remarkably similar especially within and between felsic and mafic
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samples (Figure 4-2). Although three of the five volcanic samples are moderately sorted, they still show multimodal size distributions. The multimodal particle size distributions suggest that a wide range of sizes was acceptable in the elaboration of pottery, even if the variation in particle size was not an intentional addition to the recipes for these pastes. In sum, the felsic and mafic samples exhibit larger particle sizes than the volcanics (Table A-5). Perhaps these differences in mean bulk particle size indices ae not statistically significant owing to small sample size; the mean percentages in the coarser size range are, however, statistically different for the comparison between felsic and volcanic samples.
The subtle distinction between igneous-plutonic versus igneous volcanic samples extends to roundness in temper/aplastic constituents and matric color variation (Table A-3; Figure 4-3).
For most felsic and mafic samples, the constituents are largely angular to sub-rounded, with angular to sub-angular being the most common morphological characteristic. For the volcanic samples, roundness is mostly sub-angular to sub-rounded, with less frequent occurrences of angular grains. This variability in the volcanic rock may be due the lengthy sedimentary transport that would result in increased roundness in the volcanic tempers due to such mechanic processes. On the other hand, the relative angularity present at least in the igneous-plutonic samples indicates different mechanical process from those of transport, that may have involved the crushing of the temper source rocks. The occurrence of microcrystalline mineral grains might also be associated with such physical processes. These processes of disintegration might have also been natural, which would explain the relative frequency of sub-rounded constituents and would also have contributed to the relative abundance of monocrystalline grains.
Matrix color indicates homogeneity within the felsic and mafic samples, and heterogeneity within the volcanic samples (Figure 4-3). The matrix color variation for felsic and
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most mafic samples indicates that reddish-firing iron-rich clays are widely represented in these two datasets, whereas the volcanic samples present lower iron contents (Table A-3).
The variability among the gross temper types is generally depicted in a ternary plot of gross constituent composition (Figure 4-9). This diagram plots percentages of felsic constituents
(mineral grains and rock fragments combined) and mafic constituents (mineral grains and rock fragments). The volcanic-tempered pottery plots clearly separate from felsic and mafic samples, except for one mafic sample that also contains volcanic temper. The felsic and most mafic samples plot along the felsic-mafic side of the triangle and illustrate some compositional overlap, such that some felsic and mafic samples may represent points along a continuum of available tempers. Indeed, he volcanic samples present a notable diversity of constituent composition.
The abundance of monocrystalline components relative to volcanic rock fragments in the volcanic temper sample MD19, justifies its position closest to the felsic region of the ternary plot. Both felsic and mafic samples differ drastically from the volcanics in mean percentage of volcanic rocks (Table A-4).
In the ternary plot of mineralogical composition (Figure 4-10) we can appreciate the overlapping compositions within categories based on the percentages of felsic minerals (quartz and feldspars, including plagioclase), amphibole and biotite. Regardless of the overlap, there are significant statistical differences between the groups such as: felsic and mafic samples differ significantly in mean percentage of amphibole (Table A-4); mafic and volcanic samples differ significantly in mean percentages of amphibole and biotite (TableA-4); felsic and volcanic samples differ significantly in mean percentage of biotite (Table A-4). In contrast, the ternary plot of felsic mineral composition (Figure 4-10) illustrates relative homogeneity for most
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samples. The differences between felsic and volcanic groups are indicated in the mean percentages of quartz and polycrystalline quartz (Table A-4).
Mean thicknesses of the temper groups are 7.4 mm, 5.8 mm, and 5.0 mm, for felsic, mafic, and volcanic groups, respectively (see Table A-3, Figure 4-5). The data indicate that felsic pottery is generally thicker than mafic and especially volcanic-tempered pottery. However only the difference in means for felsic and volcanic groups is statistically significant (Table A-3).
% matrix A)
matrix composition by temper category felsic mafic % vff % silt+ volcanic clay samples % matrix B)
(2 mafic samples hidden behind volcanic samples)
% vff % silt+
Figure 4-7. This ternary diagram plots the percentages of matrix, silt (microfossils) and very fine and fine ―sand,‖ of which the latter might be considered hypothetically to be a naturally occurring constituent of clay sources. Generally, homogeneity in pottery increases when the additive or ―temper‖ is removed from the analysis (fabric or paste composition, after Stoltman 1991), as shown in figure A, where the pottery plots closer together and their position shifts towards the matrix region of the triangle. When the fine sands are excluded from the analysis, the pottery and clay samples cluster more closely together, as shown in figure B.
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% vff
bulk particle size by temper category felsic mafic volcanic clay samples
% cvcg % medium
Figure 4-8. This ternary plot of bulk aplastic particle size variability illustrates the relative homogeneity in this sample.
% felsic temper composition by temper category felsic mafic volcanic clay samples
% volcanic % mafic
Figure 4-9. This ternary plot of gross constituent composition depicts the variability among the gross temper types. This diagram plots percentages of felsic constituents.
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% felsics A) mineral composition by temper category
Clay MD10 excluded owing to lack on monocrystalline grains in point counts.
felsic % biotite % amphibole mafic volcanic clay samples % quartz B)
felsic mineral composition by temper category
% plagioclase % feldspar
Figure 4-10. In the ternary plot of mineralogical composition (A) we can appreciate the overlapping compositions within categories based on the percentages of felsic minerals (quartz and feldspars, including plagioclase), amphibole and biotite. In contrast, the ternary plot of felsic mineral composition (B) illustrates relative homogeneity for most samples.
Petrographic Fabric Groups
The primary criterion for defining three petrographic fabric groups for the pottery samples was the occurrence of siliceous microfossils in the paste (Tables 2 and 3). Fabric A was defined in terms of the absence or scarcity of siliceous microfossils. This group comprises 11 pottery samples that include most felsic and mafic samples, one volcanic sample, and clay sample MD11. Fabric B is characterized by frequent siliceous microfossils. This group comprises four pottery samples, all of which have volcanic tempers, and clay sample MD10.
The fabric designation AB includes three pottery samples that are intermediate between the
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former groups, and contain occasional siliceous microfossils. Two of the AB samples have felsic tempers and one has mafic temper (Figure 4-11).
80.0
70.0
60.0
50.0 A 40.0 B 30.0 AB
20.0
10.0
0.0 felsic mafic volcanic clays Sample %
Figure 4-11. The three petrographic fabric groups. Fabric A was defined in terms of the absence or scarcity of siliceous microfossils. Fabric B is characterized by frequent siliceous microfossils. The fabric designation AB includes three pottery samples that are intermediate between the former groups, and contain occasional siliceous microfossils.
There are statistically significant differences between fabrics A and B in terms of percentages of matrix, quart, and polycrystalline quartz. The statistically significant differences between fabrics AB and B are evident in the percentages of matrix, and polycrystalline quartz.
Despite the small sample, pottery with fabric A and AB paste displays more aplastics than pottery with fabric B paste (Table A-4).
As noted in the discussion on temper composition, matrix color variability in the pottery samples (Table A-3) indicates iron-rich components in the paste of these wares. It is likely that pottery within petro-fabric A (Figure 4-12) were made of an iron-rich clay source, comparable to clay sample MD11. On the other hand, matrix color variability in the pottery samples associated
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with petro-fabric B shows the selection of clay sources with relatively lower iron content, comparable to clay sample MD10. But based on the iron concentrations from NAA data these wares were made with iron-rich clays.
Fabric A pottery is generally thicker than pottery of fabric B. Mean thickness of petro- fabric groups is 7.3mm, 4.5 mm, and 5.7 mm, for groups A, B, and AB, respectively (Table A-
3).
100.0
90.0
80.0
70.0
60.0 high iron 50.0 low iron? 40.0
30.0
20.0
10.0
0.0 A B AB Sample %
Figure 4-12. Matrix color variability in the pottery samples (see also Table A-3).
The three petro-fabrics exhibit relatively homogeneous bulk composition (Figure 4-13).
Petro-fabric A is homogeneous in terms of particle size (Figure 4-14), having larger particle size than pottery with B paste. The petro-fabrics B and AB present more variability in the distribution of particle size. There are statistically significant differences in bulk particle size indices (larger in A), mean percentage of very fine to fine particles (higher in B), mean percentages of medium
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grains (somewhat higher in B) and mean percentage of coarser grains (much higher in A) (Table
A-5).
The ternary plot of gross temper composition (Figure 4-15) illustrates that petro-fabric variability bears close correspondence with the pattern of temper variability plotted in Figure 4-
9. Gross mineralogical composition reflects a greater variability within and between fabric groups (Figure 4-16). Most members of fabric A and AB display a relatively homogeneous felsic mineral composition (Figure 4-16), in contrast to the members of petro-fabric B that shows a heterogeneous felsic composition. As was the case with matrix composition for the temper categories (Figure A-6), there is no separation of petrographic fabrics (Figures A-16 and A-16), and all the samples plot closely together.
% matrix+ bulk composition by petro-fabric category fabric A fabric A clay fabric B fabric B clay fabric AB
% temper % vff "sand"
Figure 4-13. Bulk composition by petro-fabric category. The three petro-fabrics exhibit a relatively homogeneous bulk composition.
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% vff
bulk particle size by petro-fabric category fabric A fabric A clay fabric B fabric B clay fabric AB
% cvcg % medium
Figure 4-14. Bulk particle size by petro-fabric category.
% felsic gross temper composition by petro-fabric category
fabric A fabric A clay fabric B fabric B clay fabric AB
% volcanic % mafic
Figure 4-15. This ternary plot of gross temper composition illustrates that petro-fabric variability bears close correspondence with the pattern of temper variability plotted in Figure A- 8.
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% felsics A) mineral composition by petro-fabric category
Fabric B clay MD10 excluded owing to lack on monocrystalline grains in point counts.
fabric A fabric A clay
% biotite % amphibole fabric B fabric B clay fabric AB % quartz B)
felsic mineral composition by petro-fabric category
% plagioclase % feldspar
Figure 4-16. These ternary plots of gross mineralogical composition reflect a greater variability within and between fabric groups. Most members of fabric A and AB display a relatively homogeneous felsic mineral composition, in contrast to the members of petro-fabric B that show a heterogeneous felsic composition.
Summary and Conclusions
The petrographic analyses of the pottery sample presented gross homogeneity in terms of proportions of clay matrix and gross particle size components, particularly for the members of the felsic and mafic groups. This pattern suggests relative homogeneity in desired or achieved paste recipes, despite the variability in terms of compositions. Felsic and mafic samples also present a relative homogeneity in terms of roundness of aplastics and matrix color. It is evident that red-firing clays were selected for the elaboration of wares, and that igneous plutonic rocks, possibly from detrital deposits, were processed and added as temper in comparable quantities.
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Since most felsic and mafic samples were made of petro-fabric A pastes, it is likely that these wares were locally made. This assumption is supported, to a certain degree, by clay sample MD11, which is comparable to the pottery sample in terms of the relative iron content and absence of siliceous microfossils. The incidence of felsic and mafic samples intermediate between fabrics A and B in terms of presence/frequency of siliceous microfossils may indicate the likelihood of compositional variability within the local clay sources, perhaps along horizontal and/or vertical dimensions within the clay deposits. Indeed, both examined clay samples were extracted from the same area. MD10, the sample characterized by relatively low iron levels and the presence of siliceous microfossils was collected from the same general area and directly overlies the deposit from which sample MD11 was collected.
The volcanic-tempered pottery is described as finer in texture and lower in thickness.
The proportion of aplastics is lower and particle sizes are generally smaller than those of felsic and mafic samples. If multiple clay sources with variable iron content were selected and volcanic rocks, most likely from weathered detrital deposits were added as temper, local manufacture would not be likely if the volcanic rock tempers are not locally available. Also, if clays that contain siliceous microfossils such as MD10 do not have a wide geographic distribution and volcanic tempers are not prevalent in the area, the presence of volcanic tempered pottery may be attributed to a wider geographic distribution.
In the ceramic petrology and provenance study of wares from coastal Ecuador, dated between 100 B.C.E. and 800 C.E (Regional Development Period for Ecuadorian culture-history),
Maria Masucci and Allison Macfarlane (1997) identified a compositional group (Ceramic Class
5) that does not present a clear correspondence with the context from which the samples were recovered (Masucci and Macfarlane1997:780). In this group, the distinguishing element in
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composition is a high modal percentage of quartz, plagioclase feldspar, biotite and muscovite, and volcaniclastic fragments that are characteristic of the Piedras mafic complex (as described by
Aspden et al. 1995). The principal outcrop of this Tertiary formation is in Loma de Taqui, located 2 km south from Potrero Mendieta. In addition, biotite and muscovite are present only as accessory minerals in the sediments, which is unusual in the production observed in the ceramics analyzed from the costal Santa Elena peninsula (Masucci and Macfarlane 1997:786-787). What is more, these vessels display white-on-red decorations that are pervasive in a wide geographical area from northern Peru to southern Ecuador during the Late Formative and Regional
Developmental Periods (Estrada et al. 1964; Izumi and Terada 1966; cf. Masucci and Macfarlane
1997:789). Some archaeologists have suggested that these white-on-red vessels may have been associated with ritual functions (Bushnell 1951; Estrada et al.1964; Izumi and Terada 1966).
Although the sample of 18 sherds is unquestionably small, the differences between the igneous plutonic and igneous volcanic tempers in clay selection, temper texture, and wall thickness may indicate functional differences among different wares in the pottery assemblage.
The Neutron Activation analyses performed at the Missouri Nuclear Reactor and the comparisons with the chemical compositional groups from other studies of Ecuadorian coastal and highland archaeological ceramics yields probable provenances for the ceramics, or the constituents associated with the recipes used at Potrero Mendieta around 3000 years ago.
Notes
1 The clay samples used for the petrography and INAA analyses were processed by Ann Cordell and Gerald Kidder in the Florida Museum of Natural History Ceramic Technology Laboratory (FLMNH-CTL) following the protocol published by Cordell and colleagues (2017):
―Each one of the clay samples was given an FLMNH accession number and clay number, then the samples were fumigated and divided into two portions. For each sample, the first portion is made into test bars, which are cut into briquettes for firing. The second portion is for grain-size analysis in which a sample is wet-sieved through a graduated series of ASTM International approved sieves. Both steps are taken to assess the sample‘s plasticity, shrinkage, and firing behavior; particle size and proportion; and aplastic composition. The recommended minimum
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sample is generally more than sufficient for making two test bars and subsampling for grain-size analysis.‖ (Cordell et al. 2017:95).
―The dried test bars are cut or broken into small briquettes (approximately 3 cm x 2 cm in size) for firing. A hacksaw or hammer and chisel may be required in some cases, but scoring facilitates this process. In some cases, scored bars snap apart along score lines with minimal effort. Briquettes are then fired in an electric furnace to a series of increasing temperatures to record change in color and oxidation of primary colorants (organic materials and iron compounds) with temperature (Rice 2015:288–289). Five firing temperatures are used, ranging from 400°C to 800°C at intervals of 100°C, and each temperature level is maintained for 30 minutes (soak or dwell period). The atmosphere is oxidizing and is not intended to replicate conditions of original pottery firings. The furnace temperature is initially set at 275°C and held for 10 minutes with the furnace door opened slightly to allow for escape of residual mechanically combined water as vapor. The furnace door is then shut completely after the 10- minute dwell, and the temperature is increased to the desired temperature. The kiln door is opened slightly again after completion of the firing. When firing briquettes of a given sample together, a briquette is pulled from the furnace with tongs after completion of each desired temperature (draw trials) and placed in the drying oven to cool slowly.‖ (Cordell et al. 2017:99).
―[…] briquettes of many samples are fired together at one temperature at a time. The total firing time for 800°C firing is approximately 85 minutes from start to finish. Total firing times for the 400°C through 700°C firings range from approximately 65 to 80 minutes, respectively. Upon completion of firing, briquettes are broken for recording Munsell colors and the presence or absence of dark coring to note when constituent organics appear to be completely oxidized. The 800°C briquettes are often used in color comparisons with pottery that has been refired to 800°C. Refiring the pottery is necessary to eliminate the effects of original firing conditions, thereby standardizing the basis for color comparisons between samples. This allows us to assess the relative iron content of clay samples and pottery as a way to infer gross clay resource differences (Beck 2006; Rice 2015:288–289; Shepard 1976:105).‖ (Cordell et al. 2017:99).
―Fired briquettes are labeled with firing temperature and boxed or bagged for curation. Firing temperature is written directly on fired briquettes with archival pens or a pen and India ink. But it is usually necessary first to paint a swatch of clear coat lacquer on the briquette before labeling. Firing temperature and sample clay number are written on zipper bags for crumbly or disintegrated briquettes.‖ (Cordell et al. 2017:99).
[For the petrographic analysis] ―We use the 600°C briquette for thin sectioning, as it most closely approximates, or just exceeds, the suspected maximum firing temperature of much of the pottery that is analyzed at FLMNH-CTL. Half of the 600°C briquette is sent off for thin sectioning, and the other half is retained for curation.‖ (Cordell et al. 2017:100).
―A portion of the 800°C briquette is reserved for Neutron Activation Analysis (NAA).‖ (Cordell et al. 2017:100).
The thin section preparation at Spectrum Petrographics (http://www.petrography.com/) included vacuum embedding (with EPOTEK 301), standard slide format (27x46mm) and thickness (30 μ), and acrylic mounting with a permanent glass coverslip. 2 Petrographic microscope is a Leitz Laborlux 11 Pol with a mechanical stage to conduct the Glagolev-Chayes point- counting procedure (Galehouse 1971:389).
3 Munsell Soil Color Charts were used to record matrix/core colors (Key in Table A).
4 Very fine grains are given a value of 0.5 while fine grains retain the value of 1.
5 Silt counts were added to very fine counts for clay samples in calculation of particle size in tables and figures.
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6 Silt and siliceous microfossils were included in the percentage of matrix.
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CHAPTER 5 NEUTRON ACTIVATION ANALYSIS: THE RENDERINGS OF KNOWLEDGE AND HISTORY IN THE JUBONES RIVER BASIN
Following the petrographic analyses this chapter will cover the chemical compositional analyses of the ceramics and clays from Potrero Mendieta, conducted by William Gilstrap (2017) at the University of Missouri Nuclear Reactor. In order to test the null hypothesis that states that these wares were of local origin, the results of the NAA will be compared with the datasets from the ceramics and geological samples recovered from the following Ecuadorian archaeological contexts and projects with the dataset from Potrero Mendieta: the Guayas dataset from the project in the central coast of Ecuador directed by Maria Masucci (Neff 2000a), the northern
Andes dataset from the Palmitopamba project directed by Ronald Lippi and Alejandra Gudiño
(Ferguson and Michael Glascock 2009), and the Colonial Ecuadorian Andes project directed by
Ross Jamieson (Jamieson, Hancock, ,Beckwith and Pidruczny 2013). The closing section will address the findings and shortcomings of the compositional and inter-site comparative analysis,
The Material Constitution of History
Inter-regional interaction cannot be defined simply by the unambiguous material evidence of exotic materials but also by the knowledge associated with the manufacture and movement of those materials. Based on the myriad human historical trajectories associated with social and environmental contingencies, it is reasonable to consider the movement of people and their things as resulting from a variety of processes that are not exclusively associated with deliberate exchange (exchange of gifts or commodities). Interregional interaction in pre-Hispanic
Andean contexts has been investigated by identifying the presence of foreign material culture from distant regions, and inter-group exchange has been explained with models such as verticality, or ―zonal complementarity‖ (Bandy 2005; Dillehay 1976; Goldstein 2005; Masuda et al. 1985; Owen 2005; cf. Dillehay 2013: 296). These mobility and interaction strategies have
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been interpreted as resource sharing (Dillehay 1976, 1979), alliance building (Berenguer 2004;
Salomon 1986; Topic and Topic 1983,1985), long-distance trade (Salomon 1986); production zones, diaspora and migration, warfare and other incursions (Arkush 2008; Arkush and Stanish
2005); expansion and occupation (Mayer 2002), and barter markets (Stanish and Coben 2013; cf.
Dillehay 2013: 296). The modes in which these strategies operated must have changed over different spans of times and likely operated simultaneously (Dillehay 2013: 296).
Archaeologists and anthropologists have relied on the material proxies of social processes of human mobility along with their things (possessions, essential, tokens, gifts, merchandise) to explicate the current narratives on past social interactions. The technical act of making pots as well as the social act of being a potter has been situated in the embodied knowledge, social norms and traditions associated with a social formation (e.g. Bourdieu 1977;
Dobres 1999, 2000, 2010; Lemonnier 1992). These embodied and learned practices are also historically constituted and challenge structure (e.g. Giddens 1984), and the objects produced by these technical and social acts become active agents in social life and interaction (e.g. Gell
1998). And thus, the physical properties of these materialized practices, which include human and non-human agents, are not unmovable facts or culturally specific interpretations, but part of the histories of social interaction (Ingold 2000, 2007, 2012).
This study in the Jubones River Basin considers the multifaceted historical character of mobility and interaction. Whereas such an approach might be applicable to many sites, it is particularly appropriate here considering that the analyses do not yield a clear configuration that might be attributed to a specific type of social interaction. Archaeological investigations in the
Jubones River Basin are in a nascent stage and there is still the need to implement a survey and sample collection program that will increase the geographical scope and the variability of clays
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and archaeological pottery samples. The samples used for this investigation were exclusively recovered at Potrero Mendieta, which is a limiting factor in the strength of the analyses.
Neutron Activation Analysis (NAA)
Neutron activation analysis (NAA) is a nuclear process used to determine the concentration of trace and major elements in a variety of materials. This technique allows for the discreet sampling of chemical elements because it focuses only on the nucleus of the element.
The sample, in this case the pulverized ceramic sherd or clay briquette, is subjected to a neutron flux causing the elements to produce radioactive isotopes. As these radioactive nuclides decay, they emit gamma rays with a measure of energy that is specific for each nuclide. Since the radioactive decays for each element are known, these emissions produce a quantitative measure of the concentration of each nuclide that can be compared with the gamma rays emitted by a standard sample.
NAA and petrography also provide a quantifiable and descriptive dataset that can be compared with other datasets that have been analyzed using similar techniques. Of course, the interpretative strength of these analyses is dependent upon the sample size. NAA in tandem with petrographic analysis has been employed successfully in the study of social interactions in pre-
Columbian contexts of Nasca, southwestern Peru (e.g. Vaughn and Van Gijseghem 2007), in colonial contexts of the Ecuadorian Andes (e.g. Jamieson et al. 2013), the North American southeast (e.g. Wallis 2011), the North American southwest (e.g. Ownby et al. 2014), Southern
Veracruz, Mexico (e.g. Stoner et al. 2008), Mesoamerica (e.g. Neff et al. 2006), and a number of other archaeological research projects that use these techniques on artifacts from museum collections as well as geological samples and archaeological artifacts from field research.
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Neutron Activation Analysis of the Samples from Potrero Mendieta
The specimens were prepared for NAA using procedures established at the Archaeometry
Laboratory (Glascock 1992, Glascock and Neff 2003).1 From the (n=273) of specimens recovered in the excavations at Potrero Mendieta, during seasons of 2014 and 2015, the 48 specimens were selected based on the degree of preservation and provenience. The ceramic specimens for the compositional analysis by NAA were selected from four discrete structures –
Structure 1 (n = 20); Structure 2 (n= 20); Structure 3 (n = 3); and Structure 4 (n = 3) – at different depths of deposition. The other two samples were made of fired briquettes from the clays recovered in STP10 at 60 cm and at 110 cm below the surface level, respectively (Table B-
1). From these assays were identified four tentative compositional groups, two outliers, and several unassigned samples. In the analysis performed at MURR, one of the goals was to identify compositional similarities through comparison with reference groups from the
Ecuadorian coast established in the unpublished dataset of Maria Masucci (n.d.), and from the
Ecuadorian Andes established previously by Jamieson et al. (2013) and unpublished reference groups from Ronald Lippi from the Palmitopamba archaeological research project. The NAA did not yield a match with any previously existing reference group from Lippi or Masucci. The compositional groups published by Jamieson et al. (2013) were produced at the nuclear reactor in
McMaster University and, without an inter-laboratory calibration factor, these findings are not directly compatible with the data produced at MURR. The procedures used for the irradiation and gamma-ray spectroscopy follow established MURR Archaeometry Laboratory protocol
(Glascock 1992; Glascock and Neff 2003; Neff 2000b).2
Interpretation of the Chemical Data: Methods
The analyses at MURR for the Potrero Mendieta dataset consistently produce elemental concentration values for 34 elements.3 The interpretation of compositional data obtained from
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the analysis of archaeological materials is discussed in detail elsewhere (e.g., Baxter and Buck
2000; Bieber, et al. 1976; Bishop and Neff 1989; Glascock 1992; Harbottle 1976; Neff 2000b) and will only be summarized here. The main goal of the data analysis at MURR was to identify distinct homogeneous groups within the analytical database. Based on the provenance postulate of Weigand et al. (1977), different chemical groups may be assumed to represent geographically restricted sources. The locations of sources can also be inferred by comparing unknown specimens (e.g., ceramic artifacts) to knowns (e.g. clay samples) or by indirect methods such as the ―criterion of abundance‖ (Bishop et al. 1982) or by arguments based on geological and sedimentological characteristics (e.g. Steponaitis, et al. 1996). The ubiquity of ceramic raw materials usually makes it impossible to sample all potential ―sources‖ intensively enough to create groups of knowns to which unknowns can be compared
Compositional groups can be viewed as ―centers of mass‖ in the compositional hyperspace described by the measured elemental data. Groups are characterized by the locations of their centroids and the unique relationships (e.g. correlations) between the elements.
Decisions about whether to assign a specimen to a particular compositional group are based on the overall probability that the measured concentrations for the specimen could have been obtained from that group.
Initial hypotheses about source-related subgroups in the compositional data can be derived from non-compositional information (e.g. archaeological context, decorative attributes) or from application of various pattern-recognition techniques to multivariate chemical data.
Some pattern recognition techniques used to investigate archaeological datasets are cluster analysis (CA), principal components analysis (PCA), and discriminant analysis (DA). PCA is the technique that transforms the data from the original correlated variables into uncorrelated
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variables most easily. Principal component analysis of chemical data is scale dependent, and analyses tend to be dominated by those elements or isotopes for which the concentrations are relatively large. For these compositional analyses, one of the main advantages of PCA, as discussed by Baxter (1992), Baxter and Buck (2000), and Neff (1994; 2002), is that it can be applied as a simultaneous R- and Q-mode technique, with both variables (elements) and objects
(individual analyzed samples) displayed on the same set of principal component reference axes.4
Whether a group can be discriminated easily from other groups can be evaluated visually in two dimensions or statistically in multiple dimensions. A metric known as the Mahalanobis distance
(or generalized distance) makes it possible to describe the separation between groups or between individual samples and groups in multiple dimensions.5 When group sizes are small,
Mahalanobis distance-based probabilities can fluctuate dramatically depending upon whether each specimen is assumed to be a member of the group to which it is being compared or not.
Harbottle (1976) calls this phenomenon stretchability in reference to the tendency of an included specimen to stretch the group in the direction of its own location in elemental concentration space. This problem can be circumvented by cross-validation, that is, by removing each specimen from its presumed group before calculating its own probability of membership (Baxter
1994; Leese and Main 1994).6
Results
Before any statistical analysis could be performed it was necessary to remove the element
Nickel (Ni) from the entire dataset as the majority of samples registered values lower than the limits of detection in the laboratory. Two other elements, arsenic (As) and antimony (Sb), an element often associated with As, were removed because of their high degrees of solubility in soils and potential for contamination of ceramic material during post-depositional phases. The removal of these elements is a measure to avoid any potential skewing of the data during the
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statistical investigations. With the removal of As, nickel (Ni) and Sb, the dataset was evaluated for the total variation of each element by calculating a total variation matrix (Aichenson 1986;
Buxeda i Garrigós 1999; Buxeda i Garrigós et al. 2001; Buxeda i Garrigós and Kilikoglou 2003;
Kilikoglou et al. 2007). A total variation matrix (TVM) is constructed of a table composed of log-transformed data where each element is expressed as a ratio of all other elements in the dataset (See Table B-4).
Examination of the TVM has provided several pieces of key information for subsequent sample grouping and overall archaeological interpretation of the dataset. One of the main functions of the TVM is to demonstrate which variables (elements) have the most or least amount of variation within a dataset. In this case, the transition metal chromium (Cr) shows the most variation whereas aluminium (Al), a transition metal and major component of clays and soils, has the least amount of variation in the dataset. Chromium is an element that is often used to discriminate compositional groups in ceramic studies as it can relate to very specific geological components. Second, the TVM has a calculated variation (vt) value of 3.911. Total variation is the sum of all variances in the variation matrix divided by twice the number of elements in the matrix (Buxeda i Garrigós and Kilikoglou 2003:186). This value provides a metric to evaluate variability in a chemical dataset, which is compatible with both variances and
Euclidean distances. This value is significant to the evaluation of ceramic composition studies as it is an indicator of what is referred to as monogenic or polygenic datasets. A low value indicates a monogenic dataset. For a study of ceramic composition, this translates to a group made from chemically indiscrete raw materials (a group from a single origin). Polygenic datasets suggest that there is more than one discernible composition group in the dataset. Often the integer is equivalent to the number of groups present in a single dataset, e.g. a vt value of
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3.045 suggests that there are at least three compositionally discrete groups present in a dataset.
The high vt value of 3.911 suggests that this dataset is polygenic and consists of multiple groups deriving from either discrete geological source materials or different production practices that result in altered chemical compositions (e.g. clay mixing, use of temper, etc.). With the removal of these problematic elements, the dataset was subjected to a Principal Component Analysis
(PCA). This test demonstrated that greater than 91% of the cumulative variance can be explained by the first eight principal components (Table B-2). Principal component (PC) 1 is only slightly positively loaded on the alkali elements potassium (K) and rubidium (Rb) and the rare-earth element uranium (U). PC 1 has heavy negative loading on several elements including manganese (Mn), calcium (Ca) and zinc (Zn). The second component, PC 2 is positively loaded on chromium (Cr), showing consistency with the TVM above, and negatively loaded on sodium
(Na). A biplot of these first two PCs displays the general structure of the dataset while accounting for over 56% of the cumulative variance (Figure B-1). The structure illustrated by
Figure B-1 suggests that there are upwards of four compositional groups with several outliers that can be discriminated from the original dataset. This result is consistent with the results of the
TVM described above indicating that the dataset is indeed polygenic. The resulting groups are described immediately below.
Group 1(DOM-1) consists of more than half of the samples with 26 group members.
DOM-1 is characterized mainly by elevated levels of Ca and Mn (Figure B-2), and elevated levels of actinide elements (REEs). Groups DOM-2 (n = 4) and DOM-2A (n= 2) have comparatively elevated concentrations of alkali elements: potassium (K), rubidium (Rb) and caesium (Cs) (Figure B-3), in addition to higher concentrations of uranium (U) and thorium (Th).
Group DOM-3 is set apart from all other samples with very high levels of chromium (Cr).
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Sample MED017 was separated as an outlier because of elevated Na and low Cr concentration values. Sample MED020 was also separated because of very low Na and Ca concentrations.
Twelve ceramic samples and both clay samples were left unassigned (DOM-UNK).
These samples vary in chemical composition and could not be grouped together or with any of the compositional groups. Samples from all four structures were not assigned to any specific grouping. It is notable that MED017 exhibits a chemical signature completely different from other samples in the MED dataset. MED035, and MED039 often plot within the confidence ellipse of DOM-1 (Figure B-3), but do not meet the 1% group membership probability cutoff
(Table B-3). MED015 and MED016 show 2% and 18% group membership probabilities, but have been kept separate from DOM-1 because of differences in several elements; they are considered associated members.
All the established groups and unassigned samples were tested against all groups identified in the unpublished study by Lippi (Ferguson and Glascock 2009) and by Masucci
(Neff 2000a) and against the study of Jamieson et al (2013) with no clear matches. Additionally, no compositional group matched either of the locally sampled clays submitted for comparison.
Comparison with petrographic data
Samples MED001 to MED020 were selected for additional petrographic analysis carried out by Ann Cordell at the Florida Museum of Natural History. Petrographic results indicate that there are three different ceramic fabrics as determined by the felsic, mafic and volcanic nature of the inclusions (called ―temper‖ in Cordell‘s study). Most the samples in the Mafic and Felsic petro-groups were assigned to chemical group DOM-1 with the exception of MED002, MED016 and MED018. Both MED002 and MED018 were assigned to chemical group DOM-2, while
MED016 has been identified as an associated member of DOM-1. DOM-2 corresponds with the petrographic fabric group A. Fabric A was defined by Cordell (2017:14) in terms of the absence
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and scarcity of siliceous microfossils in the paste. In the petrographic sample, there are only two members of Fabric A. Both members, MED002 and MED018 also fall into the felsic group of tempers. These are rich in elements that form feldspar and quartz such as potassium (K), sodium
(Na) and calcium (Ca).
Looking at the chemistry of the larger assemblage, it seems likely that compositional groups DOM-2, DOM-2A and DOM-3 are composed of raw materials different from DOM-1.
DOM-2 contains two samples from the felsic group of the petrographic study, MED002 and
MED018. It seems that when compared against a greater number of samples, these two sherds were more readily distinguishable from the main group. As these samples are granitic in nature, they may have been produced from a combination of mineralogically similar, but chemically different raw materials. DOM-2A and DOM-3 are, chemically speaking, very different from
DOM-1 and likely represent material brought in from elsewhere. Unfortunately, none of the samples that make up these chemical groups were present in the petrographic study.
The chemical link between the felsic and mafic petro-groups is likely a consequence of heterogeneity of the samples themselves. The descriptions of the groups show a grading of rock material from felsic to intermediate (probably dependent on the occurrence of ferromagnesian minerals biotite and hornblende amphibole) and intermediate to felsic (probably dependent on the occurrence of biotite, hornblende and the lack of quartz and/or alkali feldspars). Both petro- fabrics appear to consist of, at least partially, intermediate igneous plutonic rock fragments such as granodiorite. Perhaps the variation seen in the relatively small fragments in the vessels are variants of the same intermediate rock formation. This statement is only a hypothesis and must be investigated further. There is evidence for geological outcrops of all petrographically identified materials present in the ceramic fabrics (Longo and Baldock 1982) and it may be that
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the potters of this region collected similar-looking rocks from these different outcrops to use as tempering materials. It may be that these rocks are difficult to distinguish chemically as they are composed of similar mineralogical suites.
Discussion
The results of the chemical study in comparison with the petrographic study suggest that most of the pottery was made using locally available raw materials such as volcanoclastic rock, granite and granodiorite as temper. Although neither clay submitted for analysis was a chemical match for any of the resulting chemical groups, Cordell‘s petrographic study suggests that they could have been used for production given similarities in the presence/absence of siliceous microfossils. The results are still inconclusive. In terms of chemistry alone, the clays without rock temper added may have a significantly different chemical signature from the ceramic fabric.
There are important differences between the clays and the pottery samples in terms of the elements that form the minerals present in the tempers. In the petrography analysis by Cordell
(2017), MED005, MED008, MED015 and MED019 were grouped into Fabric B, which is characterized by the presence of siliceous microfossils (Figures 5-1, 5-2, 5-3 and 5-4). This petro-fabric is the same as the one identified in clay sample MED10. All the analyzed pottery with petro-fabric B has been enriched with volcanic temper. The clay sample has a higher content of cerium (Ce) than the pottery sample. Because cerium often occurs together with calcium in phosphate minerals, it can be a hospitable environment for the preservation of siliceous microfossils (phytoliths, sponge spicules and rare diatoms). The elements iron (Fe), cobalt (Co), arsenic (As), strontium (Sr), and calcium (Ca) were present in relatively higher concentrations in the pottery samples than in the clay samples. Enrichment in most of these elements seems likely to be correlated with the volcanic tempers. The volcanic origin of these tempers is an intriguing finding, particularly since Potrero Mendieta is located approximately
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between 200 and 300 kilometers south from the closest strato-volcanoes that contributed the volcanic ash identified in the petrographic analyses.
As discussed in Chapter 3 in the preliminary excavations on 2014, we documented the presence of a thin (2.5 -3.5 cm thick) layer of tephra, located at a depth of 90 cm below the surface, inside structure 1. Geologists Michael Perfit and John Jaeger from the Department of
Geological Sciences at the University of Florida inspected the sample and identified the presence of glass and/or phenocrysts of feldspar (personal communication, September, 2014). Below this deposit, at a depth of 115 cm below the surface, we found the only stylistically diagnostic ceramic rim, MED008, which bears a resemblance to pottery from early Valdivia, Phase 2
(2650-2400 BCE) (see Figure 5-2., Lathrap et al. 1975; Peter Stahl, personal communication,
August 2014). Unfortunately, the charred samples associated with this level were not viable for
AMS dating and we are still not able to corroborate an earlier occupation at Potrero Mendieta.
The stylistic correspondence with the Formative coastal tradition of Valdivia needs to be explored with compositional analyses from those contexts. The presence of volcanic ash in the floor of Structure 1 offers two possible explanations for the presence of this deposit: the deposition of volcanic ash from northern eruptions transported by aeolian processes, or the anthropogenic placement of volcanic ash in the floor of the structure. This first proposition was explored by sampling structures 2 and 3. In these excavations we did not find ash accumulations at the same stratigraphic associations. Also, we have not identified an anthropogenic placement of the ash within the structures that resembles the floor in structure 1.
Although the ash deposit we identified at Potrero Mendieta is at the sterile level (see
Chapter 3), this ash may have been mined for the manufacture of pottery. If that were the case, members of petro-fabric B grouping could be considered of local origin. Compositionally
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speaking, the volcanic temper that enriched these pottery samples includes homogeneous and porphyritic textures with siliceous (rhyolitic) to intermediate (andesitic) compositions, and a few grains may have more mafic compositions. In their study of late-glacial Holocene tephrochronology in lacustrine sediments, Donald Rodbell and colleagues (2002) identified widespread tephras in the glacial lakes of El Cajas National Park (approximately 50 miles from
Potrero Mendieta). These tephras originated from eruptions from the northern strato-volcanoes of Cotopaxi and Ninahuilca 315 and 350 kilometers north of Potrero Mendieta, respectively, and were deposited in different episodes around 9900, 8800, 7300, 5300, 2500, and 2200 cal yr BP.
These deposits generally consist of rhyolitic glass, andesitic ash-fall as well as low-silica tephras
(Rodbell et al. 2002). Future horizontal excavations in a different circular structure (s) will aid in determining if this ash deposition is associated with anthropogenic activity or may have correspondence with the deposition episodes identified by Rodbell and colleagues (2002).
Unfortunately, geochemical data of the strato-volcanoes from central and northern Ecuador is not available (Rodbell et al. 2002:352), therefore any comparison could only be tentatively made on chronological grounds.
Figure 5-1. Sample MED005.
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Figure 5-2. Sample MED008.
Figure 5-3. Sample MED015.
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Figure 5-4. Sample MED019.
Comparative Analysis
Comparisons with the Datasets Analyzed by MURR
There are two datasets from archaeological contexts in present-day Ecuador that previously were analyzed at the University of Missouri Nuclear Reactor (MURR). These datasets yielded compositional groups for the ceramics and clays from contexts located in the northern Ecuadorian Andes and in the central coast of Ecuador (Ferguson and Glascock 2009;
Neff 2000a). The Palmitopamba materials were analyzed for the project of Ronald D. Lippi and
Alejandra Gudiño in the northern highlands, and the Loma de los Cangejitos materials are part of the research program in the Santa Elena peninsula by Maria Masucci. Although these archaeological materials are not coeval with the ones analyzed from Potrero Mendieta, the results obtained by MURR are applicable for comparison from the standpoint of chemical composition and their association with the lithological sources. What is more, the analytical protocols applied to these datasets are consistent with the ones applied to the analysis of the Potrero Mendieta dataset.
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Neutron Activation Analysis of Ceramics of Burials at Palmitopamba, Ecuador
The site of Palmitopamba, located in the western ceja de montaña (cloud forest) of the province of Pichincha (Ecuador) comprises a monumental center occupied for several centuries by the Yumbos, one of the local indigenous groups. Ronald Lippi investigated the material traces associated with the arrival of the Incas in this region (~ 1500 C.E.) and the relationship between the Incas and this tropical forest chiefdom (Lippi 1998, 2004). In 2002, Ronald Lippi and Tamara Bray first submitted 54 ceramic and 2 clay samples to MURR for analysis by NAA
(Speakman and Glascock 2004). These ceramics were sampled from Pucará de Palmitopamba, a prehistoric hilltop fortress located 45 km northwest of Quito. The site is atypical because of the presence of Inca-style pottery. An Inca presence at Palmitopamba is considered unusual since the Inca conquest of Peru and most other regions of the Andes was primarily a highland expansion and typically did not include tropical forest elevations at less than 1500 meters above sea level (Lippi and Bray 2002). The samples submitted for analysis include Inca-style pottery,
Yumbo pottery which is presumably of local manufacture, and a sample of Cosanga (or
Panzaleo) pottery which is hypothesized to be a ―ritual‖ ceramic imported from the eastern lowlands. All but one of the last samples of all 140 that were submitted for the subsequent analysis by NAA is either assigned or closely related to the Palmitopamba group, which suggests that these ceramics could have been locally made. The sole exception is RDL139, which may be an example of a trade item from another part of the Inca Empire (Ferguson and Glascock 2009).
Neutron Activation Analysis of Ceramics of Loma de los Cangrejitos, Ecuador
The focus of the archaeological study by Maria Masucci in southwestern coastal Ecuador was determining intrasite or inter-site relationships using compositional analysis in the ceramics and clays from the culture-history Guangala phase, chronologically placed in the Regional
Developmental Period spanning 100 B.C.E. - 800 C.E. (Paulsen 1970; Masucci 1992). The
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compositional evidence of Guangala fine ware bi-chrome and polychrome ceramics indicates multiple production sites that do not correlate with the site where the pottery was identified
(Masucci 2001, 2008:499). Masucci proposes a model of trade that elucidate this pattern based on the occurrence of vessels from the same site that display a range of compositions that suggests
―the circulations or gifting of festival containers‖ (Masucci 2008:499).
The results of NAA, which also include the petrography dataset (see Masucci and
Macfarlane 1997) agree with the picture of compositional variation that had surfaced from earlier analyses of coastal Ecuadorian ceramics. Ceramics produced along the southern flanks of the
Colonche Hills are largely homogeneous and as such they constitute a single compositional group. One of the smaller groups, White-on-Red, is possibly derived from a source south of the
Gulf of Guayaquil. It is possible that the source is from the mafic Piedras Formation in the El
Oro metamorphic complex, the geological formations associated with Potrero Mendieta.
Comparative Analysis
The combined datasets from Palmitopamba (n=140), Guayas (n=338) and Potrero
Mendieta (n= 40) were compiled using the software GAUSS from the University of Missouri
Research Reactor. These three datasets were analyzed using the same protocols developed by
MURR and described above. The reports from Palmitopamba and Guayas have not been published hence I will not discuss the compositional groups identified for these datasets but will compare their compositional groups with the ones identified for Potrero Mendieta.
With the compiled data of the archaeological ceramics from Ecuador analyzed by
MURR, the first statistical routine performed in GAUSS was Principal Component Analysis
(PCA). In addition to calculating the principal components for the dataset based on the chemical load for each element, PCA can also project other datasets into the principal components space.
In the PCA for the Potrero Mendieta sample, the element nickel (Ni) was removed because most
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of the samples registered values lower than the limits of detection in the MURR laboratory. For the PCA of the compiled dataset I removed nickel, but left the two other elements that were removed from the analysis of the Potrero Mendieta sample, arsenic (As) and antimony (Sb), because they were not removed for the analysis of the other Ecuadorian datasets. The compositional loading of arsenic and antimony is significant as we will see in the Total Variation
Matrix (Table B-7), hence relevant for comparison with other datasets. Still, it is important to be aware of the high degrees of solubility of these elements (As and Sb) in soils, which may alter the composition of ceramic materials during post-depositional phases. In the El Oro geological study by Aspden and colleagues (1995), they measured the presence of arsenic in stream sediments by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), and their results ranged from less than 5 ppm (detection limit) to more than 2000 ppm. However, most of the sediments contained less than 30 ppm (Aspden et al. 1995:49). In general, there appears to be a good correlation between arsenic and gold and as such the highest values were recorded from samples near the contact zone of the El Oro metamorphic complex and the Tertiary volcano-plutonic complex south of the Jubones (Aspden et al. 1995:49-51; see chapter 4 for a discussion on the contact zone of the Tertiary volcano-plutonic complex associated where Potrero Mendieta is located).
The Principal Component Analysis demonstrates that greater than 90% of the cumulative variance can be explained by the first ten principal components (Table B-5). PC 1 is positively loaded at a percentage greater than 0.25 on the alkali elements rubidium (Rb) and caesium (Cs), the metalloid element antimony (Sb), the transitional metal tantalum (Ta), lanthanum (La), cerium (Ce), and the rare-earth elements thorium (Th) and uranium (U). PC 1 has a negative loading on sodium (Na), calcium (Ca), manganese (Mn), cobalt (Co) and strontium (Sr). The
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second component, PC 2 is positively loaded on rubidium (Rb) and scandium (Sc), and negatively loaded with manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), cobalt (Co), samarium (Sm), europium (Eu), terbium (Tb), and ytterbium (Yb). The total variation matrix for this dataset (Table B-7) shows that Cr is the element contributing to the dataset variation, however Cr shows higher percentages in PC 3-10 than in the first two PCA. As shown in table B-5, Cr accounts for more than 70 percent of the variation in PC5. Variances I PC1 and PC2 are very evenly divided among many elements. A biplot of the first two PCs displays the general structure of the dataset while accounting for 51.6 % of the cumulative variance (Figure B-4). The structure illustrated by
Figure B-4 depicts the three datasets as separate groups, and they show significant overlaps on the first two principal components. The outliers from Potrero Mendieta that fall out of the three groups are MED010, MED011, MED017 MED040.
The principal component analysis was performed in a dataset that includes each individual group (of 11 members or more) from the three MURR Ecuadorian projects. The
Mahalanobis distance routine was performed to assess the spatial distance between a data point and a distribution that measures the number of standard deviations between the data point and the mean of the distribution. For this study the Mahalanobis distance was calculated with the first eight principal components extracted from the variance-covariance or correlation matrix of the compiled compositional groups from each site assemblage. For the Mahalonobis distance the compositional groups from the Palmitopamba project (Ferguson and Glascock 2009) and the
Guayas project (Neff 2000a), each sample was projected onto the 11 groups from those three sites. From the Potrero Mendieta sample, DOM-1 is the only group that has enough samples to be considered a compositional group onto which samples can be projected for comparison. Table
B-6 shows the membership probabilities of the groups (with sufficient members) from the other
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two projects in relation to DOM-1. The clays for each one of the projects were included as unassigned members. The resulting outliers from Potrero Mendieta and the overlapping members of Potrero Mendieta with the Palmitopamba and Guayas groups will be discussed in the following sections.
Discussion and comparison with petrographic data
In the MU report for onald Lippi and Alejandra Gudiño‘s Palmitopamba sample,
Jeffrey Ferguson and Michael Glascock (2009) indicate that ethnic affiliation based on compositional analysis will be difficult to determine because there appears to be local production of both Inca and Yumbo ceramics from compositionally similar clays except for one sample that may have been produced at a different locale of the Inca empire. This sample does not present a significant membership probability with any of the other datasets analyzed in MURR. The samples from the Palmitopamba project that reflect a closer association to the compositional groups from Potrero Mendieta are not statistically significant in their percentages for membership probabilities.
In the MU report for Maria Masucci‘s Guayas sample, Hector Neff (2000a) indicates that the relatively fine-textured groups, White-on-Red, Anomalous MFP, and Fine Gray are enriched by trace elements that are likely present in the clay matrix, specifically by the presence of lanthanum and thorium. Neff (2000a) concludes that the White-on-Red members might have been imports from southern localities, or more specifically, the direction the Potrero Mendieta is in relation with the province of Guayas. In fact, the concentration of arsenic in the White-on-red sherds is higher than in all the clay samples recovered from the Santa Elena Peninsula.
Comparisons between the datasets analyzed by MURR and the McMaster dataset
The 114 ceramics studied by Ross Jamieson and colleagues as part of an ongoing research project on the Spanish colonial Period in Ecuador is comprised by a sample of ceramics
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from the city of Cuenca, in the southern Ecuadorian highlands (Jamieson and Hancock 2004), and by samples collected during excavation in the Central Highlands, in the environs of the colonial city of Riobamba (know today as Silcapa/Cajabamba). The latest analysis by Jamieson and colleagues (2013) focuses on the sourcing of the ceramics recovered in Riobamba in relation to other colonial samples to interpret the differences of ceramic production and outside sourcing in different colonial cities in what is presently Ecuador.
Since the compositional analyses of these samples were produced at the McMaster
Nuclear Reactor in McMaster University, Ontario, Canada, the results are not directly compatible with the data produced at MURR. With the permission of Ross Jamieson to use the raw compositional data for comparative purposes, and acknowledging this limitation, I have incorporated the dataset into the large raw data compilation of the Ecuadorian datasets analyzed at MURR. This last set of comparisons are analytical exercises and the results here presented should not be considered directly compatible with the compositional groups identified at MURR but could be used to orient future comparative analyses in the region. From the samples of the
McMaster dataset, the sample that shares greater correspondence with the groups identified for
Potrero Mendieta is sample number 125, associated with the intra-group Cuenca. Sample 125 is one of the two sherds in this study that are Inca-style polychromes that probably were produced locally in the Inca city of Tomebamba, present-day Cuenca (Jamieson et al. 2013:206). This sherd from Cuenca shares a similar compositional signature with sample MED046 from the intra-group DOM-3 of Potrero Mendieta. Most members of group DOM-3 are set apart from all other samples because of their very high levels of Cr. Sample MED017 was separated as an outlier due to elevated sodium (Na and low chromium (Cr) concentration values. Sample
MED020 was also separated out due to very low sodium Na and calcium (Ca) concentrations.
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Summary and Discussion of the Compositional Analyses
Chemical Compositions and their Geological Relationships
Four compositional groups and one set of unassigned members were identified within the
Potrero Mendieta sample. Group DOM-1 presents high levels of alkali metals such as K, Rb, Cs.
This felsic composition that characterizes granite, quartz, muscovite mica, and orthoclase feldspars is locally present in the Moromoro Granitoid Complex. This Late Triassic (ca. 250 -
200 MYA) formation is present as tectonic inclusions at the Quera Chico geological unit, a few kilometers south from Potrero Mendieta. Based on the petrographic analyses it is plausible that felsic granitic rocks were in the temper source mix, possibly accounting for the abundance of quartz in most of the samples (see Table A-4, Table A-7, Appendix C for representative images of this grouping‘s texture and composition, c.f. Cordell 2017). Moreover, the AMS assays of samples MED021-MED025, which are associated with the felsic tempered sherd MED007, yielded an uncalibrated date of 2996 ± 31 BP that likely represents one of the earliest human occupations associated with the architectural structures from Potrero Mendieta. The presence of rare-earth elements, lanthanum (La) and yttrium (Y), with values that range between 3 to 64 ppm, is comparable with the chemical signature of the granitoids of the Quera Chico Unit
(Aspden et al. 1995:59). These concentrations also correspond with the values of the White-on-
Red group from the Guayas sample.
The members of the mafic temper group (after Cordell 2017) are easily identifiable with low magnification because mafic minerals such as olivine, pyroxene, amphibole, biotite mica and the plagioclase feldspars are generally dark in color. These rocks present quite high loading of heavier elements such as magnesium (Mg) and iron (Fe). The intermediate igneous plutonic rocks of the Piedras Mafic Complex are characterized by the presence of dark and sparkly biotite. The Taqui Unit is part of the Piedras Mafic Complex and is located along the northern
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edge of the Quera Chico unit with which it is in tectonic contact (Aspden et al. 1995:34). The
Taqui unit is basically the hill that is located directly south from Potrero Mendieta and the biotite outcrops have been identified by Aspden and colleagues (1995) in the contact zone of the Quera
Chico and Taqui units. Based on the mean thickness of these samples (5.8 mm), these wares were larger and sturdier than the wares of felsic and volcanic composition and were probably produced locally.
The AMS assay of the sediment associated with the mafic sample MED016, yielded an uncalibrated radiocarbon date of 2433 ± 32 BP that is coeval with the south Andean archaeological site of Pirincay dated by Burleigh and colleagues (1977) and investigated by
Karen Olsen Bruhns, James Burton and George Miller (1990). In her 2003 publication Bruhns indicates that the paste analyses of pottery from the southern highlands from the sites of Pirincay,
Chaullabamba and Cerro Narrío has yielded evidence for pottery exchange or the exchange of other goods that were deposited in these vessels. Unfortunately, there are no reports on these results. Bruhns claims that the source areas for the vessels excavated from Pirincay are based not only on style but on composition, and offer evidence for interregional contact within the southern Andes and as far as the central Ecuadorian Andes (Bruhns 2003:162-163). Bruhns also associates the presence of beads made of a green stone, in two publication called turquoise
(Bruhns et al. 1990; Bruhns 2003) and in another called serpentine (Bruhns 2010) to an unknown source located in the Jubones. Although these claims are not based in actual geological evidence, Bruhns‘s proposition is interesting because it addresses social interaction throughout the Andean valleys deflecting the focus from marine shells from the coast or from Amazonian imports and redirecting it towards raw material provenance.
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Chronology and Compositional Variability
The AMS dates associated with the ceramics were assayed from charred samples recovered from the excavation contexts. The pottery samples that were directly associated with the features and levels of these dated samples are outlined in table B-AMS. The pottery samples associated with charred material dated 3330-3080 cal. BP, 3064-2885 cal. BP, 3058- 2867 cal.
BP, and 2996-2801 cal. BP were excavated from structure 2. As we can see, all the NAA group memberships identified for Potrero Mendieta are represented within this structure. From these members, the samples that were analyzed by Ann Cordell (2017) fall into petro-fabric groups A and B, and have been enriched with felsic and volcanic tempers, respectively. Although the sample is surely small, the few sherds that were identified within structure 2 appear to have been introduced through an episode of backfill. This may explain the comingling of sediments and pottery from different compositional groups, which may be the result of accumulation and discard.
In structure 1, the members of the NAA group DOM-1 are prevalent at the deeper archaeological deposits, superimposing the volcanic ash floor in structure 1 that overlies the last archaeological level and probably predates the construction of the circular structures. DOM-1 likely represents a local chemical signature, largely constituted by ceramics of petro-fabric A.
However, the widespread variability in the temper inclusions may be associated with the technological choices in ceramic elaboration circumscribed to the geological regions immediate to the Jubones River Basin. The only dates available for structure 1 are coeval with the northern highlands contexts of Cotocollao B (Porras 1982) in the Pichincha province, the costal Chorrera culture, Tabuchila Phase in the Manabí province (Engwall 2000; Zeidler et al. 1998), and with the southern highlands sites of Chaullabamba (Grieder et al. 2009), Pirincay (Bruhns et al. 1990)
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in the Azuay province, and Putushío (Temme 1999) and La Vega (Guffroy 1987) sites in the
Loja province.
The ceramic sherds recovered from structure 3, the ovoid structure located in the northern edge of the site, are associated with sediments dated between 2701and 2356 cal. BP, which is placed in the terminal phases of the Formative period chronology. The stratigraphy at this sector of the site differs from the patterns identified in structures 1 and 2, and the compositional variability may be attributed to wider inter-regional interaction networks, diversification in technological choices, or both.
Local Versus Non-Local Pottery
Because there is only compositional information for two clay samples that were recovered from the site, the characterization of local vs. non-local production rests on the validity of the archaeological criterion of abundance, as evaluated within a chronological perspective
(Bishop et al. 2002:604). Chemical group DOM-1 is found to be in abundance at the site from the earlier through subsequent occupations, whereas the other compositional groups are sparsely represented. This presents a sampling issue that can only be partly resolved by both an intensive survey of raw materials throughout the El Oro geological sub-regions and the sampling of archaeological ceramics from contexts contemporaneous with Potrero Mendieta.
In the Mahalonobis Distance analysis (Table B-6) it is shown that there are no samples from each of the groups (Guayas, Palmitopamba and Potrero Mendieta) that are potential members of groups local to another locale. Nevertheless, had there been chemical correspondence between these groups, a social or historical relationships would be difficult to infer because the sites are not contemporaneous. Keeping in mind these limitations, the groups identified in the Potrero Mendieta sample, and the individual members of the unassigned group
(DOM-UNK) were projected directly onto the well-defined groups from Guayas and
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Palmitopamba. None of the members of the groups identified for these two projects share chemical correspondence with DOM-1 and the unassigned samples MED05, MED06, MED15,
MED19, MED39, and MED43 fall into the White-on-red group. We can also see that all DOM2 and DOM2A members have some affinity for Guayas white-on-red. Sample MED11 (clay) also has a slight affinity. It is also plausible that there is a similarity in the chemistry of resources local to the two areas (Guayas and PM).
Vessels of History: Narratives of Context and Composition
In addressing provenance, the compositional groups of pottery reflect the historical contingency of the formation processes of archaeological contexts. While wares may have been transported from places far away from Potrero Mendieta, the contexts from which the samples were recovered do not reflect an explicit treatment for this pottery. The sherds that were recovered during the excavation were mixed with the backfill soil, so probably they had been previously discarded.
In their discussion of the Shipibo-Conibo discard and refuse practices, DeBoer and
Lathrap (1979:135) pointed out that the archaeological record illustrates the behavior that produced refuse rather than the behavior that produced a cultural system (contra Binford
1964:425, emphasis mine). Because of constant sweeping and racking of broken vessels, particularly in secondary refuse areas, where weather may have also altered the distribution of sherds, the discard patterns of many of the Shipibo-Conibo vessels were obscured, which was probably the intention behind these acts of discard (DeBoer and Lathrap 1979:129). Events that ensue in the accumulation of refuse would not be apparent in contexts that are decidedly meant to be undisturbed (e.g. in burials), or in high traffic areas (e.g. houses, workshops), where there may be a clearly organized spatial patterning for refuse, as documented by DeBoer and Lathrap
(1979) for the Shipibo-Conibo primary refuse contexts. At Potrero Mendieta, in circular
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structure 2, the pottery sherds that were recovered from the strata closest to the surface, at approximately 30 cm DBS, were associated with charcoal sediments that yielded uncalibrated dates of 2859 ± 25 years BP. The bottom strata at approximately 80 to 90 cm DBS yielded AMS uncalibrated dates of 2805 ± 30 BP, 2860 ± 30 BP and 3010 ± 25 BP, which, in addition to the stratigraphic relationships within the structure suggest the pottery found within the structure was mixed with the backfill or the structure in an event of abandonment or repurposing of the architectural feature (see Chapter 3).
In the context of an enclave characterized by architecture, which at least for its construction and maintenance required the simultaneous assemblage of many able bodies, the documented ceramic distribution patterns can be rather defined as non-patterns, at least in terms of manufacture, use, and discard of these objects. The absence of whole vessels, or at least, of large portions of fragments from which style and function could be determined, suggests that
Potrero Mendieta was not associated with the permanence of a homogenous and relatively sedentary group as the modern Shipibo-Conibo. Further excavations at Potrero Mendieta might uncover contexts with more discernible patterns that would provide other connections between the compositional groups identified, and other social relations involved with secondary production of pottery (e.g. decoration) and style and function.
The findings from Potrero Mendieta reveal that the pottery fragments found in the backfill events were likely produced using clays gathered at the site or from the immediate surroundings. This does not preclude the possibility that clays were obtained from other regions; alas the dataset is too small to make such an assertion. On the other hand, the tempers acquired to produce these wares were obtained from sources that cover an area of 2400 Km2, mainly associated with the El Oro metamorphic complex and the outcrops in and around the Jubones
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fault. The fabric and temper of fine wares produced such as the White-on-Red identified in contexts from the Regional Developmental Period (ca. 100 B.C.E. - 800 C.E.) in the Ecuadorian coast share compositional characteristics, in terms of both lithology and temper, with the wares produced, or at least mobilized in and around Potrero Mendieta.
Although additional compositional datasets of archaeological ceramics analyzed by NAA would provide a larger comparative dataset, this study will be refined through a clay collection survey beyond the Potrero Mendieta context. Further excavations at Potrero Mendieta would also expand our understanding of the spatial configuration of ceramic artifacts within and around the architectural structures.
Notes
1 Fragments of about 1 cm2 were removed from each sherd and abraded using a silicon carbide burr in order to remove surface treatments (e.g. glaze, slip, paint) and adhering soil, thereby reducing the risk of measuring contamination. The specimens were washed in deionized water and allowed to dry in the laboratory. Once dry, the individual sherds were ground to powder in an agate mortar to homogenize them. Archival portions were retained from each sherd (when possible) for future research. Two analytical samples were prepared from each specimen. Portions of approximately 150 mg of powder were weighed into high-density polyethylene vials used for short irradiations at MURR. At the same time, 200 mg aliquots from each sample were weighed into high-purity quartz vials used for long irradiations. Individual sample weights were recorded to the nearest 0.01 mg using an analytical balance. Both vials were sealed prior to irradiation. Along with the unknown samples, standards made from National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) certified standard reference materials of SRM-1633b (coal fly ash) and SRM-688 (basalt rock) were similarly prepared, as were quality control samples (e.g. standards treated as unknowns) of SRM-278 (obsidian rock) and Ohio Red Clay (a standard developed for in-house applications) (Glascock 1992; Glascock and Neff 2003). Daniel Lee was responsible for preparation and irradiation of all project specimens (Gilstrap 2017:2). The clay samples used for the NAA analyses were previously processed by Ann Cordell and Gerald Kidder in the Florida Museum of Natural History Ceramic Technology Laboratory (FLMNH- CTL) where they were placed in a drying oven for 24 hours at 100 degrees C by and subsequently fired at 800 degrees C with a soak time of 30 minutes in order to drive off water and other volatile substances (see for example Wallis et al. 2015:33).
2 Neutron activation analysis of ceramics at MURR, which consists of two irradiations and a total of three gamma counts, constitutes a superset of the procedures used at most other NAA laboratories (Glascock 1992; Glascock and Neff 2003; Neff 2000b). As discussed in detail by Glascock (1992), a short irradiation is carried out through the pneumatic tube irradiation system. Specimens in the polyvials are sequentially irradiated, two at a time, for five seconds by a neutron flux of 8 × 1013 n cm-2 s-1. The 720-second count yields gamma spectra containing peaks for nine short-lived elements aluminum (Al), barium (Ba), calcium (Ca), dysprosium (Dy), potassium (K), manganese (Mn), sodium (Na), titanium (Ti), and vanadium (V). The specimens are encapsulated in quartz vials and are subjected to a 24-hour irradiation at a neutron flux of 5 × 1013 n cm-2 s-1. This long irradiation is analogous to the single irradiation utilized at most other laboratories. After the long irradiation, specimens decay for seven days, and then are counted for 1800 seconds (the "middle count") on a high-resolution germanium detector coupled to an automatic sample changer. The middle count yields determinations of seven medium half-life elements, namely arsenic (As), lanthanum (La), lutetium (Lu), neodymium (Nd), samarium (Sm), uranium (U), and ytterbium (Yb).
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After an additional three- or four-week decay, a final count of 8500 seconds is carried out on each specimen. The latter measurement yields the following 17 long half-life elements: cerium (Ce), cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr), caesium (Cs), europium (Eu), iron (Fe), hafnium (Hf), nickel (Ni), rubidium (Rb), antimony (Sb), scandium (Sc), strontium (Sr), tantalum (Ta), terbium (Tb), thorium (Th), zinc (Zn), and zirconium (Zr). The element concentration data from the three measurements were tabulated in parts per million using Microsoft® Office Excel (Gilstrap 2017:3).
3 In the current sample, some of these elements are present at or below the detection limits for neutron activation using the current procedures at the University of Missouri Nuclear Reactor. If greater than 50% of specimens are missing a value for a particular element, this element is removed from consideration in the analysis. Statistical analyses are carried out on base -10 logarithms of elemental concentrations. Use of log concentrations rather than raw data compensated for differences in magnitude between the major elements, such as sodium (Na), and trace elements, such as the rare earth or lanthanide elements (REEs). Transformation to base -10 logarithms also yields a more normal distribution for many trace elements.
4 As Neff and Glascock explain (2001:4): ―The two dimensional plot of element coordinates on the first two principal components is the best possible two-dimensional representation of the correlation or variance-covariance structure in the data: Small angles between vectors from the origin to variable coordinates indicate strong positive correlation; angles close to 90o indicate no correlation; and angles close to 180o indicate negative correlation. Likewise the plot of object coordinates is the best two-dimensional representation of Euclidean relations among the objects in log-concentration space (if the PCA was based on variance-covariance matrix) or standardized log- concentration space (if the PCA was based on the correlation matrix). Displaying objects and variables on the same plots [i.e., biplots] make it possible to observe the contributions of specific elements to groups separation and to the distinctive shapes of the various groups. Such a plot is called a ―biplot‖ in reference to the simultaneous plotting of objects and variables.‖
5 The Mahalanobis distance of a specimen from a group centroid (Bieber et al. 1976, Bishop and Neff 1989) is defined by:
퐷푦,2= [푦− 푋 ]푡 퐼푥 [푦−푋 ] where y is the 1 × m array of logged elemental concentrations for the specimen of interest, x is the n × m data matrix of logged concentrations for the group to which the point is being compared with 푋 being it 1 × m centroid, and Ix is the inverse of the m × m variance–covariance matrix of group x. Because Mahalanobis distance takes into account variances and covariances in the multivariate group it is analogous to expressing distance from a univariate mean in standard deviation units. Like standard deviation units, Mahalanobis distances can be converted into probabilities of group membership for individual specimens. For relatively small sample sizes, it is appropriate to base probabilities on Hotelling‘s T2, which is the multivariate extension of the univariate Student‘s t test (Glascock 1992).
6 This is a conservative approach to group evaluation that may sometimes exclude true group members. Small sample and group sizes place further constraints on the use of Mahalanobis distance: with more elements than samples, the group variance-covariance matrix is singular thus rendering calculation of Ix (and D2 itself) impossible. Therefore, the dimensionality of the groups must somehow be reduced. One approach would be to eliminate elements considered irrelevant or redundant. The problem with this approach is that the investigator‘s preconceptions about which elements should be discriminated may not be valid. It also squanders the main advantage of multi-element analysis, namely the capability to measure a large number of elements.
An alternative approach is to calculate Mahalanobis distances with the scores on principal components extracted from the variance-covariance or correlation matrix for the complete data set. This approach entails only the assumption, entirely reasonable in light of the above discussion of PCA, that most group-separating differences should be visible on the first several PCs. Unless a data set is extremely complex, containing numerous distinct groups, using enough components to subsume at least 90% of the total variance in the data can be generally assumed to yield Mahalanobis distances that approximate Mahalanobis distances in full elemental concentration space. Lastly, Mahalanobis distance calculations are also quite useful for handling missing data (1975). As Glascock (1992:19) explains: ―When analyzing many hundreds of specimens for a large number of elements, it is almost
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certain that a few concentrations will be missed for some specimens. This occurs more frequently when the concentration for an element is near its detection limit in a group of specimens. Rather than eliminate such specimens from consideration, it is possible to substitute a missing value by choosing a value that minimizes the Mahalanobis distance for the specimen from the group centroid. Thus, those few specimens which are missing a concentration can be included in all group calculations.‖
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CHAPTER 6 CONCLUSION
The archaeological investigations of the Potrero Mendieta site provide a glimpse of how inter-regional interaction can be manifested as knowledge of the physical world. The field research program that led to the identification and archaeological excavations of Potrero
Mendieta had the investigation of the Jubones River Basin as one of its main objectives. This basin is a natural corridor in the western cordillera of the Andes that connects the highlands with the Pacific coastal plains.
This corridor also connects to valleys that lead to the eastern cordillera and the
Amazonian cloud forest. The location of the site is characterized by an ecological mosaic with diverse climatic zones ranging from tropical floodplains in the west to moorlands at high altitudes. In present times the physical configuration of this region facilitates the movement of people and goods from the highlands to the coast, but this relatively low transverse cordillera has been intensely transited for millennia. In fact, Potrero Mendieta is the largest Formative site identified in the region and its location likely played a significant role in the historical processes of inter-regional interaction during the Formative.
The construction of the extensive architectural complex at Potrero Mendieta would have required a tremendous amount of human labor to transport the river stones used to build the structures. The uses of the site cannot be unequivocally interpreted; however there is evidence that suggests connections with distant locales were symbolically referenced at Potrero Mendieta.
A notable example is a sherd in the style of Valdivia phase II identified in Structure 1. Other ritual acts may have been associated with the backfilling event of Structure 2 and its patterned arrangement of pecked and pigmented stones at the center of the structure. In the following section, I will argue for interpreting the site as a dynamic regional node where ritual and
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quotidian activities converge. Finally, I will offer a summary of the results of the compositional analyses and recommendations for future research in the region.
Potrero Mendieta as an Enclave of Inter-regional Interaction
One of the lines of evidence that has been addressed in these investigations is monumental architecture. In this monograph, I referred to a few interpretations of architecture and settlement patterns in Ecuador and northern Peru. I will now present two examples that are far-removed both geographically and chronologically. They are germane to the discussion of
Potrero Mendieta in that they address ritual activity and pilgrimage as modes of interaction and as referents of history. I will then present one example of present-day ritual practices in
Southwestern Ecuador. The first example is the archaeological site of Göbekli Tepe, situated on the Gemus Mountains, in southeastern Turkey, which exemplifies, in its material vestiges, processes of social interaction and monumental construction mediated by a social order that defied the traditional characterizations of pre-agricultural societies (Dietrich et al. 2012; Schmidt
2001).
Göbekli Tepe comprises a collection of massive structures that include more than 200 T- shaped pillars within 20 walled circular enclosures built by hunter-gatherer groups that congregated there approximately 11,000 years ago (Dietrich et al. 2012; Schmidt 2001). These structures display zoomorphic and anthropomorphic three-dimensional depictions that follow divergent orientations. E. B. Banning (2011) proposes that the structures at Göbekli Tepe had diversified uses throughout their history, which were neither exclusively domestic nor ritual.
Banning (2011) asserts that in cataloguing archaeological contexts perceived as ―unusual‖ or
―exceptional‖ as ritual, there is an inclination to follow models that agree with the Western post-
Enlightenment sacred-profane dichotomy. He, and others, advocate caution when making these distinctions (Boyd 2005:26; Br ck 1999). In fact, in both non-Western and Western
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cosmologies, the ritual and the secular are more intertwined than we tend to recognize (Banning
2011:637; Bradley 2000; Verhoeven 2004). A notable challenge in the interpretations of
Göbekli Tepe is in the description of elements that have been framed as ritual. In the initial analyses of the site, Klaus Schmidt (2001), and Oliver Dietrich and colleagues (2012) interpreted the monumentality of the spatial contexts at Göbekli Tepe as neatly sacred. These interpretations perhaps overlooked the possibility that the practices and meanings associated with these structures were generated through the building of the complex, even during the initial use of the structures as domestic places (Banning 2011:637). Marc Verhoeven (2004) argues that the symbolic relations between humans and the animate and inanimate world emerged during the early periods of human occupation in the region. He further asserts that the rituals and symbolism generated by early human societies served to sustain and transform such continuous symbolic relations (Verhoeven 2004:265).
In North America, the monumental earthworks at the Poverty Point site have had an enduring social life connected to archaeological research and the politics of heritage management
(Gibson 2000:16-17, 20-21). The Late Archaic Poverty Point Complex located in the American
Southeast presents an elusive context of social interaction among hunter-gatherer groups who engaged in the construction of large earthen mounds and congregated in the complex around
3,600 years ago (Kidder 2011). Ken Sassaman (2012) has interpreted the construction of these works as the outcomes of the cooperative, discursive practices that were projected towards future conditions. Although the construction of Poverty Point was relatively rapid, its material reality conjures the historical associations of those involved in the concerted practices that materially connected diverse historical experiences (Sassaman 2005:336). Monumental complexes such as
Göbekli Tepe and Poverty Point facilitated the processes of mobility and assembly of human
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groups, and are simultaneously ordinary and special. This gathering of agencies and materialities was not timeless, rather it referenced history and created history.
In present-day Ecuador, sites of religious pilgrimage that are dedicated to saints and the numerous iterations of the Virgin Mary draw believers from different regions to a single sacred space localized at a sacred locale or edifice. In shrines and altars at Roman Catholic temples the material manifestations of religiosity can be observed in the symbolic attachment to flower offerings, scapulars, pictures, and other mementos left by the faithful as physical reminders of their prayers. In their comparative study of pilgrimages, Simon Coleman and John Elsner (1995) have noted that pilgrims are invested in collecting a piece of the charisma of a pilgrimage center as much as in engaging in the pilgrimage experience itself. This ‗piece of the place‘ will in turn retain the potency of the pilgrimage center after the traveler has returned home (Coleman and
Elsner 1995:100; Bradley 2000). In southern Ecuador, for example, it is not uncommon to see all types of vehicles, passenger, cargo and even construction equipment, displaying decals from the pilgrimage to the Basilica of Our Lady of El Cisne. Many of the faithful join the pilgrimage to El Cisne to fulfill a promise to the virgin1 and to have their vehicle blessed in order to prevent transit accidents and other mishaps on the roads. These decals retain the potency of the pilgrimage and the promise of protection. In these modern pilgrimages the ‗mundane‘ and the
‗exceptional‘ are interconnected.
As illustrated in the contemporary pilgrimage to El Cisne, ritual practice is a process not a physical object. Physical objects, such as an edification or a memento, may render evidence of these processes in relation to their engagement in social life but are not literal accounts of practice. The feasibility of interpreting past ritual processes through material remains, such as the architectural structures identified at Potrero Mendieta, is dependent upon two general factors:
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the degree to which taphonomic processes obscure or obliterated representative elements of the life history of the structure, and the anthropogenic activity that inadvertently or forcefully obliterated a physical rendering of previous activities. Catherine Bell (1992:74) argues that ritual practice is relational and needs to be examined through the human agencies that create the differentiations between the ritual and non-ritual, and proposes that ―ritual activities are themselves the very production and negotiation of power relations‖ (Bell 1992:196). So, the mere characterization or the reading of a structure as a proxy of an activity ignores the relational and historical dynamism of practice. Edifications of any kind may refer to certain aspects of a historical past and be used in a manner that is more suitable for the emergent present and the projected future. The possible transitions and mediations that occurred at Potrero Mendieta during a specific time and context involved practices that were neither exclusively secular nor sacred.
The excavations of the architectural structures at Potrero Mendieta revealed a notable scarcity of organic and artefactual remains. Most of the pottery sherds that were recovered in the excavations were associated with a backfill event that occurred around 2860 ± 30 BP, which largely obliterated any evidence of the previous use of the structures and suggested that their subsequent use might not have been associated with activities such as food processing, dwelling or craft manufacture. Here we see a marked readjustment in the use of the edifications, in which the previous construction was maintained but its use was changed. The archaeological evidence from contexts contemporaneous with the earliest occupation identified at Potrero Mendieta elucidates plausible connections in terms of architectural style. Certainly, the connections and architectural relationships among coeval archaeological sites from Northern Peru, the Southern
Ecuadorian highlands and western lowlands, and the Formative manifestations from the eastern
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Andean cloud forest and lowlands that might have been established through travel facilitated by the inter-Andean corridors such as the Jubones Valley, were significant in the historical process of the region but cannot be read as proxies for social, political, religious and economic orders, or as universal cognitive processes.
The material traces of Potrero Mendieta (ca. 1,000 BCE) are renderings of historical processes that were not insular in time and space. These processes are partially accessible through the material relationships apparent in the ceramic vessels identified at Potrero Mendieta.
The application of compositional analysis to the pottery sherds recovered from the excavation, an optimal technique considering the fragmentary nature of the material evidence from Potrero
Mendieta, yield evidence of the relationships of artisans with places. Some of these relationships are apparent in the material constitution of the ceramic remains, and elucidate connections with far-flung places and knowledge of and connection with nearby locales. To date, materials that are explicitly from remote locales have not been identified at Potrero Mendieta, except for the possible association of two pottery sherds with clay sources from the coast of the Gulf of
Guayaquil.
Summary of the Findings
Potrero Mendieta has been protected throughout the years by its lack of accessible paths and abundant vegetation. Indeed, the difficulty accessing the site and the degree to which the architectural features are not identifiable to the naked eye complicated the identification process.
However, this also has led to excellent preservation of the structures. This collection of architectural structures covers at least two hectares of the hill where the site lies. These structures were built with granodioritic boulders brought from the Jubones river bed, the path from which requires one to travel, as the crow flies, approximately one kilometer to the south and ascend 300 vertical meters to arrive in the field at around 600 meters above sea level. The
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circular structures in the complex bear resemblance to architectural structures from contexts of the same period, specifically from the highland sites of La Vega (Guffroy 1987) and
Chaullabamba (Grieder et al. 2009), and from the eastern cloud forest site of Santa Ana La
Florida (Valdez 2007, 2008, 2013). The paucity of artifacts in the depositional contexts within the structures does not present clear evidence of them being either domestic or public structures.
Ritual and quotidian practices are relational and temporal and thus it is plausible that these structures might have had different uses throughout their life history. The artifacts identified and recovered at Potrero Mendieta mainly include highly fragmented pottery sherds and a few lithic fragments and débitage. However, the excavations detailed in this monograph amount to perhaps two percent of the identified circular structures and a mere fraction of a percent of the entire complex. This being the case, the potential for future research to uncover cultural materials of interest is very great.
The depositional units in the excavations within the circular structures indicate that said structures were treated differently throughout the history of occupations that dated between cal.
3330 to 2355 B.P. In Structure 1 we identified a floor made of volcanic ash, which overlies an older depositional unit for which we do not have an absolute date. Above the ash floor there were no patterned distributions of artifacts. The artifacts and the charred material used for AMS dating were associated with backfill deposits. Probably the floors were cleaned before the backfill, which obliterated information on the initial use of the structure. The trench that was excavated in Structure 2 revealed a depositional event that consisted of the assemblage of a mound of rocks, some that were modified through pecking or painting (see Chapter 3). This event was associated with a hearth at the base of the structure and the placement of stones in a patterned manner after the backfilling event.
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A sample of the pottery sherds recovered from the excavation was compositionally analyzed employing NAA and petrography. The results of these analyses were compared with compositional analyses of pottery from coastal Ecuador and the northern Ecuadorian Andes. The patterns documented in the petrographic analysis present relative variability in the composition of the paste recipes. By and large, red-firing clays are predominant in the sample, and igneous plutonic rocks were processed as temper. The provenience of temper that contain quartz, plagioclase feldspar, biotite and muscovite, and volcaniclastic fragments are found throughout the 24,000 Km2 area of the El Oro metamorphic complex in south-west Ecuador. The geological composition of the greater southern region of the Jubones Basin is part of the El Oro metamorphic complex, which comprises rock types/assemblages of different ages, divergent metamorphic histories and of both continental and oceanic correspondences (Aspden et al. 1995).
If the sources for the volcanic-tempered samples and those with siliceous microfossils were gathered from weathered detrital deposits, the presence of pottery with these additives is unlikely to be of local production. From the comparisons made to the petrographic analysis from the peninsula of Santa Elena, one of the compositional groups identified by Masucci and Macfarlane
(1997), class 5, does not present clear affinities with the clays sampled from the surroundings of the sites where these samples were recovered, but with the composition of clays from mafic sources in the El Oro metamorphic complex. Whereas the samples from coastal Ecuador date between 100 BCE and 800 CE, one can hypothesize there to have been continuity in the movement of these wares across the Andes to the coast. The white-on-red decorations of these vessels, from Formative contexts in northern Peru and southern Ecuador, have been associated in the literature with ritual activities (Bushnell 1951; Estrada et al. 1964; Izumi and Terada 1966;
Masucci and Macfarlane 1997).
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The NAA yielded four compositional groups DOM-1, DOM-2, DOM-2A, DOM-3. All the NAA group memberships identified for Potrero Mendieta are represented within Structure 2.
The presence of all the compositional groups in this structure may be the result of backfill with sediment laden with an accumulation of discarded pottery. In Structure 1, the members of the
NAA group DOM-1 are present in the older archaeological deposits, below the volcanic ash floor, therefore these wares may predate the construction of the circular structures. DOM-1 likely represents a local chemical signature. The prevalent variability in the temper inclusions in this group may be correlated with the technological choices constrained to the geological regions immediate to the Jubones River Basin, specifically the El Oro metamorphic complex.
The ceramic sherds recovered from Structure 3, the structure with collapsed concentric walls located in the northern edge of the site, are associated with sediments dated between 2701 and 2356 cal. BP, which is placed in the terminal phases of the Formative period chronology.
The stratigraphy at this sector of the site differs from the patterns identified in structures 1 and 2, and the compositional variability may be attributed to wider inter-regional interaction networks, diversification in technological choices, or both. DOM-2 and DOM-2A members have some affinity with the coastal white-on-red. Whereas these wares may have been transported to the coast from the Jubones valley, there might be a similarity in the chemistry of resources local to the two areas.
The Potrero Mendieta Case-Study: Conclusions and Future Directions
Because of budgetary constraints and the determination that it would be most expedient to first understand the more unambiguous components of the site, the circular structures, we were not able to sample all of the different components of Potrero Mendieta. For future investigations of the site I recommend a geophysical survey, specifically using multiplexed resistivity, to identify anthropogenic structures that are otherwise obscured by sediment and
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vegetation. In terms of archaeological excavation, a horizontal excavation of at least fifty percent of a circular structure would help us further understand distribution of space and the depositional patterns that are not entirely evident when only excavating trenches. Because there is no solid research precedence in the area, the continuation of the project is important to help understand the chronology of human occupations in the Jubones Basin and so, it would benefit from obtaining additional radiocarbon dates for the charred material that has been recovered during the excavations. Lastly, compositional analysis through petrography and NAA of an extensive set of clay samples from the area, sourced from outside the site location, would enable further information to be gleaned from the artifacts analyzed thus far.
Notes
1 In 1595, the image of the Virgin of El Cisne was commissioned to the sculptor Diego de Robles to fulfill a promise made by the indigenous farmers to follow the Roman Catholic cult to the Virgin Mary after having been affected by a lengthy and devastating drought (Alvarado 1982). Nowadays, the promise consists of keeping the pilgrimage alive every year from August the 10th to September the 12th.
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APPENDIX A PETROGRAPHIC ANALYSIS
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Table A-1. List of samples for petrographic analysis. Item DBS Temper Matrix Sample # MEDID category Unit (cm) Point # Group Fabric MED-01 PM-EC2014-01 pottery DL24 10-30 . volcanic A MED-02 PM-EC2014-02 pottery DL24 55-60 . felsic A MED-03 PM-EC2014-03 pottery DL24 60-65 28 mafic A MED-04 PM-EC2014-04 pottery DL24 70-80 . mafic A MED-05 PM-EC2014-05 pottery DL24 90 . volcanic B MED-06 PM-EC2014-06 pottery DL24 90-94 . felsic A MED-07 PM-EC2014-07 pottery DL24 100-115 . felsic AB MED-08 PM-EC2014-08 pottery DL24 115 . volcanic B MED-09 PM-EC2014-09 pottery CT-8 0-8 7 felsic AB MED-10 PM-EC2015-01 clay STP10 60 sample 1 na B MED-11 PM-EC2015-02 clay STP10 110 sample 2 na A MED-12 PM-EC2015-03 pottery STP10 85 . felsic A MED-13 PM-EC2015-04 pottery STP10 130 . mafic AB BW50, BY50, MED-14 PM-EC2015-05 pottery 0-10 . felsic A BX50 MED-15 PM-EC2015-06 pottery BX50 20 . volcanic B MED-16 PM-EC2015-07 pottery BX50, BY50 35-37 . mafic A MED-17 PM-EC2015-08 pottery CU-8, CU-9, CU-10 27-32 . felsic A MED-18 PM-EC2015-09 pottery CU-8, CU-9, CU-10 32-38 . felsic A CS-10, CT-9 west MED-19 PM-EC2015-10 pottery 15-27 . volcanic B half CS-9, CT-9 west MED-20 PM-EC2015-11 pottery 60-66 . felsic A half
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Table A-2. Gross temper category descriptions. temper/paste n of composition petro-fabric sample #s comments groups cases felsic felsic to intermediate igneous plutonic (granitic to 9 most fabric A; MD02, MD06, MD07, #6-some pxQ could be metamorphic; #18 and #20 granodiorite), composed of quartz, plagioclase, uid 2 fabric AB MD09, MD12, MD14, have muscovite; #18 might have metamorphic pxQ; feldspar, and lesser but variable biotite, lesser amphibole; MD17, MD18, MD20 muscovite mica is rare muscovite mica is rare mafic intermediate to mafic igneous plutonic 4 most fabric A; MD03, MD04, MD13, #3 tonalite (variety of granodiorite) can account for (granodiorite/diorite/tonalite), with equal amphibole, 1 with some MD16 large grains of biotite and amphibole#3 also has biotite, quartz, plagioclase, uid feldspar; some more felsic overlap with some intermediate volcanics; large biotite grains igneous plutonic rocks in the temper mix fabric B might have been culturally selected volc A mixed volcanic and felsic igneous rocks, with plagioclase 2 fabric B MD08, MD15 #15 intermediate volcanics, monocrystalline grains (zoned in one case), feldspar, variable quartz, lesser but are phenocrysts; some epidote could have plutonic significant amphibole origin volc B mixed volcanic and/or felsic igneous rocks, with feldspar, 1 fabric B MD19 volcanic origin; altered intermediate to siliceous and lots of alteration to epidote with recrystallization, but lots of epidote volc C mixed volcanic and felsic igneous rocks, with feldspar, 2 fabric A MD01, MD05 rock frags with micrographic textures might be lesser but significant epidote? recrystallized siliceous volcanics; some similarity to MD05 clay samples clay MD10 frequent silt; occasional larger aplastics including quartz, 1 fabric A MD10 red firing; only rare siliceous microfossils polycrystalline quartz, possibly volcanic clay MD11 frequent silt; occasional larger aplastics including quartz, 1 fabric B MD11 pale firing; frequent siliceous microfossils red polycrystalline quartz, possibly volcanic firing; only rare to occasional possible siliceous microfossils petro-fabrics composition pottery n clay n temper groups sample #s A none to rare siliceous microfossils 12 1 (MD11) 7 felsic, 3 mafic, 1 MD01, MD02, MD03, MD04; MD06, MD12, MD14, volcanic MD16, MD17, MD18, MD20
B frequent siliceous microfossils 5 1 (MD10) all volcanic MD05, MD08, MD15, MD19 AB intermediate--occasional to frequent siliceous microfossils 3 . 2 felsic, 1 mafic MD07, MD09, MD13
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Table A-3. Other physical properties identified in the samples and statistical comparisons of fabric and temper.
Temper Likely temper Phyto- Size Size Rounded- Color of Sherd Sample # Item Category Group source Petro-fabric liths spc Diatoms Sorting modes modes ness matrix thickness MED-01 pottery volc C siliceous volcanic A rare . . poor 4-modal c,f,m,vf SA to SR 4d 7.0 SA, A to MED-02 pottery felsic granite A rare . . poor 4-modal c,vf,m,f 4d 6.0 SR
granodiorite, SA, A to MED-03 pottery mafic A . . . poor 4-modal m,c,f,vf 4c 7.0 tonalite SR
granodiorite, MED-04 pottery mafic A . . . poor 4-modal vf,c,f,m A to SR 2a 6.0 tonalite MED-05 pottery volc C siliceous volcanic B freq occ . poor 3-modal f,m,vf R to SA 2b 5.0 granodiorite, MED-06 pottery felsic A rare . . poor 4-modal c,f,m,vf A to SR 4c 6.0 granite
moderate SA, A to MED-07 pottery felsic granodiorite AB occ . . 4-modal f,m,vf,c 4d 6.0 to poor SR
intermediate moderate SA, A to MED-08 pottery volc A B freq occ . 3-modal vf,f,m 2a 3.0 volcanic to poor SR MED-09 pottery felsic granodiorite AB ocfr rare . poor 3-modal f,vf,m A to SR 4d 6.0 MED-10 clay na na B freq rare? occ good 1-modal silt-vf SR to SA 1 na MED-11 clay na na A rare . . good 1-modal silt-vf SR to SA 4a na MED-12 pottery felsic granodiorite A rare . . poor 4-modal f,m,c,vf A to SR 4d 9.0 moderate MED-13 pottery mafic granodiorite, diorite AB ocfr rroc . 3-modal f,m,vf A to SR 4b 5.0 to poor
SA, A to MED-14 pottery felsic granodiorite A rroc . . poor 3-modal c,m,f 4e 12.0 SR
intermediate moderate MED-15 pottery volc A B freq ocfr . 3-modal m,vf,f SA to SR 2b 4.0 volcanic to poor
MED-16 pottery mafic granodiorite, diorite A . . . poor 4-modal m,f,c,vf A to SR 4b 5.0
SA, A to MED-17 pottery felsic granite A rroc . . poor 4-modal f,c,vf,m 4c 8.0 SR
SA, A to MED-18 pottery felsic granite A rare . . poor 4-modal f,c,vf,m 4e 6.0 SR
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Table A-3. Continuation.
Color Temper Likely temper Petro- Phyto- Size Size Rounded- of Sherd Sample # Item Category Group source fabric liths spc Diatoms Sorting modes modes ness matrix thickness intermediate moderate MED-19 pottery volc B B freq occ . 4-modal m,f,vf,c SA to SR 4e 6.0 volcanic to poor
MED-20 pottery felsic granodiorite, granite A rare . . poor 4-modal f,m,c,vf A to SR 4e 8.0
Statistical comparisons
Yates chi relative iron df p square felsic vs. volcanic 3.771 df =1 p=0.05215 fabric A vs B 3.581 1 0.05844
mean Yates chi statistical temper t df p thickness square comparison felsic 7.4mm 6.0-12.0 felsic v mafic 1.54 11 0.15 mafic 5.8mm 5.0-7.0 felsic v volcanic 2.28 12 0.041 volcanic 5.0 mm 3.0-7.0 mafic v volcanic 0.828 7 0.43 clay . .
mean Yates chi statistical fabric t df p thickness square comparison A 7.3 mm 5.0-12.0 A v B 2.61 13 0.022 B 4.5 mm 3.0-6.0 A v AB 1.37 12 0.20 AB 5.7 mm 5.0-6.0 B v AB 1.43 5 0.21
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Table A-3. Continuation.
Key matrix relative iron Roundedness color Munsell color Description content key category 1 10YR 7/2 low iron A angular 2a 10YR 6/4 low iron? R rounded 2b 10YR 7/2.5 with 10YR 4/2 core low iron? SA Sub-angular
4a 2.5YR 3/6 with 5YR 3/2.5 core high iron SR Sub-rounded 4b 10YR 3-3.5/1.5 to 2.5 with reddish/ high iron brownish edge(s)
4c 5YR 4.5/5 high iron 4d 5YR 4.5/5 with 10YR 6/3-4 core high iron
4e 5YR 4.5/5 with 10YR 4/3 core high iron
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Table A-4. Petrographic data by temper and petro-fabric categories, and statistical comparisons of temper and petro-fabric categories.
n of % % %mafic %volcanic % % Gross temper cases Statistic % voids % matrix % silt quartz %pxq %plag feldspar %felsic rock rock rock biotite amphib % Fe felsic 9 mean 8.6 59.1 2.5 10.8 2.8 3.0 6.0 8.0 1.1 0.1 2.3 2.0 2.1 std dev 1.5 3.6 0.8 3.9 2.4 3.0 3.2 3.7 1.2 0.2 1.7 2.3 1.5
7.1- range 5.4-10.5 54.1-64.1 1.6-3.7 0.3-8.6 0.0-8.9 0.6-10.1 2.2-12.9 0.0-4.0 0.0-0.7 0.5-6.2 0.0-6.3 0.3-4.8 19.3
mafic 4 mean 7.5 59.0 4.0 8.6 0.9 2.6 4.6 5.8 2.0 (1 at 6.3) 5.1 4.6 1.1 std dev 1.3 3.8 1.4 2.7 0.4 2.2 1.1 2.6 0.5 . 4.6 1.3 1.3
6.3- 1.6- range 5.9-8.9 53.5-61.8 2.9-5.9 0.5-1.4 0.6-5.4 3.5-5.9 2.9-8.9 1.4-2.5 0-6.3 2.9-5.7 0-2.9 12.3 11.8
volc A 2 mean 5.0 69.8 2.6 3.4 0.2 1.4 4.2 1.6 2.6 6.0 . 1.8 4.8 std dev 3.7 7.6 1.6 4.7 0.2 0.5 1.3 1.2 3.7 0.4 . 0.8 0.6
range 2.3-7.6 64.4-75.2 1.4-3.7 0-6.7 0-0.3 1.0-1.7 3.4-5.0 0.7-2.4 0-5.3 5.7-6.3 . 1.3-2.4 4.4-5.3 volc B 1 percentage 7.2 67.3 2.7 7.3 . 9.1 4.5 0.5 0.9 2.7 . 0.5 3.2 volc C 2 mean 8.6 61.1 3.0 3.8 1.2 0.5 4.0 14.7 0.8 7.2 0.2 . 1.6 std dev 6.3 0.4 0.4 5.3 1.1 0.7 1.8 1.6 0.2 2.6 0.2 . 1.6
range 4.1-13.0 60.8-61.4 2.7-3.3 0-7.5 0.5-2.0 0-1.1 2.7-5.3 13.6-15.8 0.7-1.0 5.4-9.1 0-0.3 . 0.5-2.7
T volc 5 mean 6.8 65.8 2.8 4.3 0.6 2.6 4.2 6.6 1.6 5.8 0.1 0.8 3.2 std dev 4.1 5.8 0.9 3.9 0.8 3.7 1.1 7.5 2.1 2.3 0.1 1.0 1.8
range 2.3-13.0 60.8-75.2 1.4-3.7 0-7.5 0-2.0 0-9.1 2.7-5.3 0.5-15.8 0-5.3 2.7-9.1 0-0.3 0-2.4 0.5-5.3
clay MD10 1 percentage 11.2 90.3 5.1 ...... 3.0 . . . (fabric B) clay MD11 1 percentage 2.4 83.7 7.4 . 0.5 . 2.5 0.5 . 1.0 . . 2.5 (fabric A)
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Table A-4. Continuation.
Statistical comparisons felsic vs. mafic t df p felsic vs. volcanic t df p mafic vs. volcanic t df p %amphibole -2.11 11 0.0591 %matrix -2.67 12 0.0204 %matrix -2.01 7 0.0841 %quartz 2.99 12 0.0112 %volcanic -2.36 7 0.0501 %pxq 1.92 12 0.0784 %biotite 2.49 7 0.0414 %volcanic -7.69 12 <0.0001 % amphibole 4.88 7 0.0018 %biotite 2.96 12 0.012
n of % %felsic %mafic %volcanic % % fabric cases statistic % voids % matrix % silt % quartz %pxq %plag feldspar rock rock rock biotite amphib % Fe A 11 mean 8.9 59.4 2.6 9.6 2.5 2.1 5.1 8.5 1.2 1.1 3.3 2.4 2.0 std dev 1.9 3.6 0.8 3.5 2.3 2.3 3.0 3.8 1.1 2.4 3.3 2.6 1.5
0.3- 0.3- range 5.9-13.0 53.5-64.1 1.6-4.3 6.3-19.3 0-7.3 0.6-10.1 2.2-13.6 0-4.0 0-6.3 0-6.3 0.3-4.8 8.6 11.8
AB 3 mean 7.5 58.7 4.4 11.3 1.0 5.1 6.1 5.1 1.4 0.2 1.9 3.1 1.3 std dev 1.9 3.3 1.3 3.8 0.6 3.3 1.5 2.2 0.9 0.4 0.07 1.9 1.1
0.5- range 5.4-9.0 55.2-61.8 3.5-5.9 7.1-14.5 3.0-8.9 4.9-7.8 2.9-7.4 0.7-2.5 0-0.7 1.1-2.5 1.4-5.1 0-2.0 1.7
B 4 mean 5.3 66.9 2.8 3.5 0.2 3.0 4.6 4.8 1.8 6.0 . 1.0 3.4 std dev 2.5 6.1 1.0 4.0 0.2 4.2 0.8 7.3 2.4 2.6 . 1.0 2.1
range 2.3-7.6 60.8-75.2 1.4-3.7 0-7.3 0-0.5 0-9.1 3.4-5.3 0.5-15.8 0-5.3 2.7-9.1 . 0-2.4 0.5-5.3
A vs.B t df p AB vs. B t df p %matrix -2.99 13 0.0105 %matrix -2.07 5 0.0936
%quartz 2.84 13 0.0139 %quartz 2.58 5 0.492
%pxq 1.99 13.0 0.1 %pxq 2.24 5.0 0.1
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Table A-5. Particle size data by temper and petro-fabric categories, and statistical comparisons of temper and petro-fabric categories. Silt counts were included in with very fine grain in particle size calculations. gross temper n statistic BPSI.5 %vff % medium %cvcg felsic 3 mean 1.66 51.6 23.9 24.6 std dev 0.18 7.8 3.4 6.3
range 1.35-1.94 40.5-66.7 19.2-27.9 14.2-32.1 mafic 4 mean 1.61 50.5 26.8 22.7 std dev 0.16 6.8 3.5 6.4
range 1.42-1.80 42.4-58.5 21.6-29.2 13.8-28.8 volcanic 5 mean 1.46 57.4 28.9 13.6 std dev 0.27 11.5 8.4 12.2
range 1.11-1.80 46.2-70.2 20.0-42.0 0-30.2
clay MD10 value/ 1 0.76 89.5 5.3 5.3 (fabric B) percentage clay MD11 value/ 1 0.88 82.8 10.3 6.9 (fabric A) percentage
Statistical comparisons felsic vs. volcanic t df p %cvcg 2.25 12 0.0443 petro-fabric n statistic BPSI.5 %vff % medium %cvcg A 11 mean 1.72 48.3 24.6 27.1 std dev 0.12 5.0 3.3 3.4
range 1.60-1.94 40.5-55.0 19.4-29.2 22.0-32.2
AB 3 mean 1.42 60.5 24.8 14.7 std dev 0.06 5.5 4.9 1.3
range 1.35-1.50 56.2-66.7 19.2-27.7 13.8-16.2
B 4 mean 1.38 60.2 30.2 9.5 std dev 0.22 11.1 9.0 9.1
range 1.11-1.65 49.2-70.2 20.0-42.0 0-21.5
A vs. B t df p BPSI 3.92 13 0.0018 %vff -2.97 13 0.0108 %medium -1.84 13 0.0894 %cvcg 5.58 13 <0.0001
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Table A-6. Raw point counts
f P a e a c p v l m s o a l c q s fels a t u p a f c u f i m m f m e n l s o a e c i a a i a t m a t q a q r f l g f f c f g i v a s i vf u m r u t e d rck n i i i r n o t t s c a e s a z r p s - e c c rck c o g i r i i s – qua r d e r i r o l p ign o - u d i c l r t t t i p a a volc u rck rck Ep rck sample # MEDID p interval s x s t silt+ tz z q q z e c q g r sed s -A -Fe x -B MD-001 PM-EC2014-01 3b 1x1x2 44 181 114 8 106 12 8 1 1 . 6 5 3 3 8 2 38 0 1 . 1 MD-002 PM-EC2014-02 1 1x.5x2 26 168 103 5 98 7 3 5 5 . 5 5 . 7 19 . 35 . . .
MD-003 PM-EC2014-03 2 1x1x1 17 104 71 5 66 5 1 3 2 . 1 5 . 1 7 . 8 2 1 .
MD-004 PM-EC2014-04 2 1x1x2 18 154 134 9 125 4 4 8 10 . 4 . 1 3 17 1 18 4 . .
MD-005 PM-EC2014-05 3b 1x.5x2 9 127 82 7 75 . . . . . 1 . 1 . 11 30 3 . 2 .
MD-006 PM-EC2014-06 1 1x1x2 25 163 94 4 90 2 6 9 6 . 22 6 2 1 6 . 11 2 . .
MD-007 PM-EC2014-07 1 1x1x2 28 167 115 10 105 4 9 7 . . 2 1 4 25 22 . 21 2 1 .
MD-008 PM-EC2014-08 3a 1x.5x2 7 224 74 11 57 . . . . . 1 12 1 5 15 1 1 . . .
MD-009 PM-EC2014-09 1 1x1x2 17 164 133 11 120 11 22 7 3 . 5 4 2 9 17 . 15 2 . .
MD-010 PM-EC2015-01 4B 1x.5x1 30 214 23 12 7 ......
MD-011 PM-EC2015-02 4A 1x1x1 5 169 33 15 18 . . . . . 1 5 . . 5 1 . . . .
MD-012 PM-EC2015-03 1 1x1x1 20 146 124 6 118 6 8 7 10 . 6 12 1 6 10 . 24 3 . .
MD-013 PM-EC2015-04 2 1x.5x1 18 126 78 12 65 3 10 9 3 . 1 . . 7 10 . 6 5 . .
MD-014 PM-EC2015-05 1 1x1x1 42 222 176 8 168 7 10 14 5 . 1 4 . 29 35 . 32 14 . .
MD-015 PM-EC2015-06 3a 1x.5x2 17 134 74 3 69 4 5 5 . . . 9 2 2 7 2 3 . 5 5 . MD-016 PM-EC2015-07 2 1x1x2 20 158 100 11 89 6 6 6 . . 3 1 2 14 9 . 23 3 1 .
MD-017 PM-EC2015-08 1 1x1x2 28 182 120 9 111 8 12 6 4 . 10 1 . 5 24 . 32 3 . .
MD-018 PM-EC2015-09 1 1x1x2 28 138 100 7 93 5 9 5 4 . 8 . 1 3 24 . 30 . 1 .
MD-019 PM-EC2015-10 3c 1x.5x1 17 148 72 6 65 3 7 4 2 . . 5 2 20 10 . 1 . . .
MD-020 PM-EC2015-11 1 1x1x1 19 116 65 4 61 8 9 9 8 1 5 6 . . 1 . 4 . . .
213
Table A-6. Continued
m c q m u p l u u e s h a a s p c y y r c i o t t o d v o l z v o i spc u i T i opq/ Tmafic trach rhyo porph t t or m T w/ t fels t T sample # MEDID mix rock volc lite volc amphb e biotite e isot p grog uid total voids silt TQ e rock e fels MD-001 PM-EC2014-01 . 2 0 9 7 0 P 1 P . . P . 295 339 8 22 6 38 . 77 MD-002 PM-EC2014-02 1 1 . . . 1 . 5 . . . . . 271 297 5 20 5 35 . 86 MD-003 PM-EC2014-03 1 4 . 1 10 10 . 8 P . . . . 175 192 5 11 1 8 . 28 MD-004 PM-EC2014-04 . 4 . . . 16 . 34 1 . . . . 288 305 9 26 4 19 1 70 MD-005 PM-EC2014-05 . 2 . 19 . . 8 . . P . . . 209 218 7 0 1 3 . 15 MD-006 PM-EC2014-06 . 2 . . . 1 . 16 P . . . . 257 282 4 23 22 11 . 63 MD-007 PM-EC2014-07 . 3 . . . 4 P 3 . P . . . 282 310 10 20 2 21 . 90 MD-008 PM-EC2014-08 . 0 . 17 . 4 . . . 6 . . . 298 305 11 0 1 1 . 22 MD-009 PM-EC2014-09 . 2 . 2 . 15 . 6 . 2 . . . 297 313 11 43 5 15 . 89 MD-010 PM-EC2015-01 . 0 . 7 . . . . . 4 . . . 237 267 12 0 . 0 . 0 MD-011 PM-EC2015-02 . 0 . 2 ...... 4 . . 202 207 15 0 1 1 . 7 MD-012 PM-EC2015-03 . 3 . . . 17 . 8 . . . . . 270 290 6 31 6 24 . 77 MD-013 PM-EC2015-04 . 5 . . . 6 . 5 . 1 . . . 204 222 12 25 1 6 . 49 MD-014 PM-EC2015-05 2 16 . 1 . 12 P 2 P . . . . 398 440 8 36 1 32 . 133 MD-015 PM-EC2015-06 1 11 2 11 . 5 1 . . 2 . . . 208 225 3 14 . 3 . 26 MD-016 PM-EC2015-07 . 4 . . . 11 . 4 . . . . . 258 278 11 18 3 23 . 67 MD-017 PM-EC2015-08 . 3 . . . P . 6 . . . . . 302 330 9 30 10 32 . 101 MD-018 PM-EC2015-09 . 1 . . . P . 3 P . . . . 238 266 7 23 8 30 . 88 MD-019 PM-EC2015-10 2 2 1 1 4 1 . . . 1 2 P . 220 237 6 16 . 1 . 47 MD-020 PM-EC2015-11 . 0 . . . 2 . 5 1 . 1 . 1 181 200 4 35 5 4 1 46
214
Table A-6. Continued
p h y t o Tapl spc T mafic mafic clay for or mafic t mafic sample # MEDID rock mins tmafic Tvolc lump limonite size isot T aplastics rck-A amphb ambib rck-B Tbiotite MD-001 PM-EC2014-01 2 1 3 18 . . 106 . 114 0 0 0 1 2 MD-002 PM-EC2014-02 1 6 7 0 . . 98 . 103 . 1 1 . 5 MD-003 PM-EC2014-03 4 18 22 11 . . 66 . 71 2 10 12 . 8 MD-004 PM-EC2014-04 4 50 54 0 . . 125 . 134 4 16 20 . 34 MD-005 PM-EC2014-05 2 8 10 49 . . 75 . 82 . . 0 . 0 MD-006 PM-EC2014-06 2 17 19 0 . . 90 . 94 2 1 3 . 16 MD-007 PM-EC2014-07 3 7 10 0 . . 105 . 115 2 4 6 . 3 MD-008 PM-EC2014-08 0 4 4 18 . . 57 6 74 . 4 4 . 0 MD-009 PM-EC2014-09 2 21 23 2 . . 120 2 133 2 15 17 . 6 MD-010 PM-EC2015-01 0 0 0 7 . . 7 4 23 . . 0 . 0 MD-011 PM-EC2015-02 0 0 0 2 4 . 14 . 33 . . 0 . 0 MD-012 PM-EC2015-03 3 25 28 0 . . 118 . 124 3 17 20 . 8 MD-013 PM-EC2015-04 5 11 16 0 . . 65 1 78 5 6 11 . 5 MD-014 PM-EC2015-05 16 14 30 1 . . 168 . 176 14 12 26 . 2 MD-015 PM-EC2015-06 11 6 17 15 . . 69 2 74 . 5 5 . 0 MD-016 PM-EC2015-07 4 15 19 0 . . 89 . 100 3 11 14 . 4 MD-017 PM-EC2015-08 3 6 9 0 . . 111 . 120 3 . 3 . 6 MD-018 PM-EC2015-09 1 3 4 0 . . 93 . 100 . . 0 . 3 MD-019 PM-EC2015-10 2 1 3 6 2 . 65 1 72 . 1 1 . 0 MD-020 PM-EC2015-11 0 7 7 0 1 1 61 . 65 . 2 2 . 5
215
Table A-7. Particle size. felsic rock (ign, volc, sample # MEDID pxq ferric opq plag feldspar sed) MD-001 PM-EC2014-01 6 (1vf2f1m1c1vc) 5 (2vf1f2m) 3 (1vf2f) 3 (1vf1f1m) 8 (5vf2f1m) 2 (1f1vc) MD-002 PM-EC2014-02 5 (2f3m) 5 (3vf2f) . 7 (2vf4f1c) 19 (9vf4f4m2c) . MD-003 PM-EC2014-03 1f 5 (1vf1f2m1c) . 1f 7 (4vf2f1vc) . MD-004 PM-EC2014-04 4 (1f2c1vc) . 1f 3 (1vf1f1c) 17 (11vf6f) 1m schisty ss MD-005 PM-EC2014-05 1f . 1m . 11 (4vf6f1m) 30 (2vf13f9m5c1vc) MD-006 PM-EC2014-06 22 (1vf2f6m10c3vc) 6 (5vf1f) 2f 1f 6 (4vf2f) . MD-007 PM-EC2014-07 2f 1f 4 (3vf1m) 25 (6vf9f7m3c) 22 (8vf11f2m1c) . MD-008 PM-EC2014-08 1m or volc 12 (4vf3f5m) 1f 5 (1vf2f2m) 15 (8vf5f2m) 1m meta? MD-009 PM-EC2014-09 5 (1f2m2c) 4 (1vf1f2m) 2 (1vf1m) 9 (2vf6f1m) 17 (7vf9f1c) . MD-010 PM-EC2015-01 ...... MD-011 PM-EC2015-02 1f 5 (1f2m2c) . . 5vf 1f MD-012 PM-EC2015-03 6 (1f3m2c) 12 (4vf5f2m1c) 1vf 6 (1vf5f) 10 (5vf5f) . MD-013 PM-EC2015-04 1c . . 7 (4vf2f1m) 10 (8vf2f) . MD-014 PM-EC2015-05 1c 4 (1vf2f1c) . 29 (3vf10f7m9c) 35 (9vf19f7m) . MD-015 PM-EC2015-06 . 9 (1vf2f6m) 2 (1vf1m) 2vf 7 (6vf1f) 2 (1vf1f) MD-016 PM-EC2015-07 3 (1vf1f1m) 1c 2f 14 (2vf6f5m1c) 9 (6vf1f2m) . MD-017 PM-EC2015-08 10 (1f4m4c1vc) 1vf . 5 (3vf1f1m) 24 (11vf11f2m) . MD-018 PM-EC2015-09 8 (3vf2f1m1c1vc) . 1f 3 (1f2m) 24 (15vf5f3m1c) . MD-019 PM-EC2015-10 . 5 (1f3m1c) 2 (1vf1f) 20 (4vf4f8m3c1vc) 10 (4vf2f1m3c) . MD-020 PM-EC2015-11 5 (2f1m2c) 6 (1vf2f2m1c) . . 1vf .
216
Table A-7. Continuation sample # MEDID fels igneous mafic rck-A mafic rck-Fe mafic rck-Epx mafic rck-B trach volc MD-001 PM-EC2014-01 38 (7f15m12c4vc) . 1vc altered composite? . 1m . MD-002 PM-EC2014-02 35 (5f10m19c1vc) . . . . MD-003 PM-EC2014-03 8 (4m3c1vc) 2m (1 w Q) 1c . . MD-004 PM-EC2014-04 18 (1f7m9c1vc) 4 (2m2c) . . . MD-005 PM-EC2014-05 3 (2f1m) . 2 (1f1m) . . MD-006 PM-EC2014-06 11 (1f2m7c1vc) 2 (1m1vc) . . . MD-007 PM-EC2014-07 21 (2f11m8c) 2 (1c1vc) 1c w pxr . . MD-008 PM-EC2014-08 1m . . . . MD-009 PM-EC2014-09 15 (1f9m5c) 2c . . . MD-010 PM-EC2015-01 . . . . . MD-011 PM-EC2015-02 . . . . . MD-012 PM-EC2015-03 24 (1vf5f9m8c1vc) 3 (1m1c1vc) . . . MD-013 PM-EC2015-04 6 (1f3m2c) 5 (2m3c) . . . MD-014 PM-EC2015-05 32 (1f10m13c7vc1gr) 14 (1f3m6c4vc) . . . MD-015 PM-EC2015-06 3 (2m1c) . 5 (1f4m) 5 (1f3m1c) . 2 (1f1c) MD-016 PM-EC2015-07 23 (4f8m11c) 3c 1c px? . . MD-017 PM-EC2015-08 32 (7f10m12c3vc) 3vc . . . MD-018 PM-EC2015-09 30 (7f6m16c1vc) . 1c . . MD-019 PM-EC2015-10 1m . . . 1f MD-020 PM-EC2015-11 4 (2m2c) . . . .
217
Table A-7. Continuation sample # MEDID rhyolite porph volc amphb epidote biotite m mica MD-001 PM-EC2014-01 9 (2f1m6c) 7 (1f1m5c) . . 1m . MD-002 PM-EC2014-02 . . 1f . 5 (4vf1f) . MD-003 PM-EC2014-03 1f or chert 10 (1m8c1vc) 10 (3vf3f4m) . 8 (1vf4f2m1c) . MD-004 PM-EC2014-04 . . 16 (5vf3f4m4c) . 34 (15vf13f5m1c) 1c MD-005 PM-EC2014-05 19 (3vf12f2m1c1vc) . . 8 (5vf3f) . . MD-006 PM-EC2014-06 . . 1f . 16 (3vf8f4m1c) . MD-007 PM-EC2014-07 . . 4 (2vf2c) . 3 (1vf1f1m) . MD-008 PM-EC2014-08 17 (6vf7f4m) . 4 (3vf1m) . . . MD-009 PM-EC2014-09 2 (1c1vc) . 15 (8vf5f1m1c) . 6 (3vf1f1m1c) . MD-010 PM-EC2015-01 7 (3vf2f1m1c) . . . . . MD-011 PM-EC2015-02 2 (1vf1m) . . . . . MD-012 PM-EC2015-03 . . 17 (3vf7f6m1c) . 8 (3vf3f1m1c) . MD-013 PM-EC2015-04 . . 6 (2vf3f1m) . 5 (3f2m) . MD-014 PM-EC2015-05 1m . 12 (3vf2f1m4c2vc) . 2 (1m1c) . MD-015 PM-EC2015-06 11 (1vf4f5m1c) . 5 (1vf1f3m) 1vf . . MD-016 PM-EC2015-07 . . 11 (3vf3f3m2c) . 4 (1vf1f1m1c) . MD-017 PM-EC2015-08 . . . . 6 (3vf3f) . MD-018 PM-EC2015-09 . . . . 3 (2f1m) . MD-019 PM-EC2015-10 1vf 4 (1vf1f1m1c) 1f . . . MD-020 PM-EC2015-11 . . 2f . 5 (2f2m1c) 1vf
218
Table A-7. Continuation sample # MEDID opq/mix clay lump limonite MD-001 PM-EC2014-01 . . . MD-002 PM-EC2014-02 1m . . MD-003 PM-EC2014-03 1m . . MD-004 PM-EC2014-04 . . . MD-005 PM-EC2014-05 . . . MD-006 PM-EC2014-06 . . . MD-007 PM-EC2014-07 . . . MD-008 PM-EC2014-08 . . . MD-009 PM-EC2014-09 . . . MD-010 PM-EC2015-01 . . . MD-011 PM-EC2015-02 . 4 (1m3vc) . MD-012 PM-EC2015-03 . . . MD-013 PM-EC2015-04 . . . MD-014 PM-EC2015-05 2m . . MD-015 PM-EC2015-06 1f . . MD-016 PM-EC2015-07 . . . MD-017 PM-EC2015-08 . . . MD-018 PM-EC2015-09 . . . MD-019 PM-EC2015-10 2 (1m1c) 2 (1c1vc) . MD-020 PM-EC2015-11 . 1m 1vf
219
Table A-8. Percentages
% P a % T a a p a a s p l p p M t % l a l l a e % m a s a a % t G v a s t s s felsic r r o t t i t t rock i o i r i c i i (ign, x u d i c s - c c % % % T volc, %fels sample # MEDID fabric p s x total s silt+ s s silt % Q PXQ plag % feld Tfeld %feld sed) igneous MD-001 PM-EC2014-01 A 3b 13.0 61.4 295 114 106 35.9 38.6 2.7 7.5 2.0 1.0 2.7 11 3.7 0.7 12.9 MD-002 PM-EC2014-02 A 1a 8.8 62.0 271 103 98 36.2 38.0 1.8 7.4 1.8 2.6 7.0 26 9.6 0.0 12.9 MD-003 PM-EC2014-03 A 2 8.9 59.4 175 71 66 37.7 40.6 2.9 6.3 0.6 0.6 4.0 8 4.6 0.0 4.6 MD-004 PM-EC2014-04 A 2 5.9 53.5 288 134 125 43.4 46.5 3.1 9.0 1.4 1.0 5.9 20 6.9 0.3 6.3 MD-005 PM-EC2014-05 B 3b 4.1 60.8 209 82 75 35.9 39.2 3.3 0.0 0.5 0.0 5.3 11 5.3 14.4 1.4 MD-006 PM-EC2014-06 A 1b 8.9 63.4 257 94 90 35.0 36.6 1.6 8.9 8.6 0.4 2.3 7 2.7 0.0 4.3 MD-007 PM-EC2014-07 AAB 1c 9.0 59.2 282 115 105 37.2 40.8 3.5 7.1 0.7 8.9 7.8 47 16.7 0.0 7.4 MD-008 PM-EC2014-08 B 3a 2.3 75.2 298 74 57 19.1 24.8 3.7 0.0 0.3 1.7 5.0 20 6.7 0.3 0.3 MD-009 PM-EC2014-09 AB 1c 5.4 55.2 297 133 120 40.4 44.8 3.7 14.5 1.7 3.0 5.7 26 8.8 0.0 5.1 MD-010 PM-EC2015-01 B 4B 11.2 90.3 237 23 7 3.0 9.7 5.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0 0.0 0.0 0.0 MD-011 PM-EC2015-02 A 4A 2.4 83.7 202 33 18 8.9 16.3 7.4 0.0 0.5 0.0 2.5 5 2.5 0.5 0.0 MD-012 PM-EC2015-03 A 1c 6.9 54.1 270 124 118 43.7 45.9 2.2 11.5 2.2 2.2 3.7 16 5.9 0.0 8.9 MD-013 PM-EC2015-04 AB 2 8.1 61.8 204 78 65 31.9 38.2 5.9 12.3 0.5 3.4 4.9 17 8.3 0.0 2.9 MD-014 PM-EC2015-05 A 1c 9.5 55.8 398 176 168 42.2 44.2 2.0 9.0 0.3 7.3 8.8 64 16.1 0.0 8.0 MD-015 PM-EC2015-06 B 3a 7.6 64.4 208 74 69 33.2 35.6 1.4 6.7 0.0 1.0 3.4 9 4.3 1.0 1.4 MD-016 PM-EC2015-07 A 2 7.2 61.2 258 100 89 34.5 38.8 4.3 7.0 1.2 5.4 3.5 23 8.9 0.0 8.9 MD-017 PM-EC2015-08 A 1a 8.5 60.3 302 120 111 36.8 39.7 3.0 9.9 3.3 1.7 7.9 29 9.6 0.0 10.6 MD-018 PM-EC2015-09 A 1a 10.5 58.0 238 100 93 39.1 42.0 2.9 9.7 3.4 1.3 10.1 27 11.3 0.0 12.6 MD-019 PM-EC2015-10 B 3c 7.2 67.3 220 72 65 29.5 32.7 2.7 7.3 0.0 9.1 4.5 30 13.6 0.0 0.5 MD-020 PM-EC2015-11 A 1b 9.5 64.1 181 65 61 33.7 35.9 2.2 19.3 2.8 0.0 0.6 1 0.6 0.0 2.2
220
Table A-8. Continuation
% m a f i c rck - E p x % % o e b r % p i o a a i o t m m d t % % h % T % p p o i phyto % %T mafic e % T opq/ opq/ Feo tFeo h h t t % spc or Tfels Tfels T mafic mafic sample # MEDID rck-A r volc mix mix pq pq b b e total e other isot rock rock rock rock MD-001 PM-EC2014-01 0.0 0.7 5.4 0 0.0 8 2.7 0 0.0 . 295 0.3 0.0 0.0 40 13.6 2 0.7 MD-002 PM-EC2014-02 0.0 0.0 0.0 1 0.4 5 1.8 1 0.4 . 271 1.8 0.0 0.0 35 12.9 1 0.4 MD-003 PM-EC2014-03 1.1 0.6 6.3 1 0.6 5 2.9 10 5.7 . 175 4.6 0.0 0.0 8 4.6 4 2.3 MD-004 PM-EC2014-04 1.4 0.0 0.0 0 0.0 1 0.3 16 5.6 . 288 11.8 0.3 0.0 19 6.6 4 1.4 MD-005 PM-EC2014-05 0.0 1.0 9.1 0 0.0 1 0.5 0 0.0 3.8 209 0.0 0.0 0.0 33 15.8 2 1.0 MD-006 PM-EC2014-06 0.8 0.0 0.0 0 0.0 8 3.1 1 0.4 . 257 6.2 0.0 0.0 11 4.3 2 0.8 MD-007 PM-EC2014-07 0.7 0.4 0.0 0 0.0 5 1.8 4 1.4 . 282 1.1 0.0 0.0 21 7.4 3 1.1 MD-008 PM-EC2014-08 0.0 0.0 5.7 0 0.0 13 4.4 4 1.3 . 298 0.0 0.0 2.0 2 0.7 0 0.0 MD-009 PM-EC2014-09 0.7 0.0 0.7 0 0.0 6 2.0 15 5.1 . 297 2.0 0.0 0.7 15 5.1 2 0.7 MD-010 PM-EC2015-01 0.0 0.0 3.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 . 237 0.0 0.0 1.7 0 0.0 0 0.0 MD-011 PM-EC2015-02 0.0 0.0 1.0 0 0.0 5 2.5 0 0.0 . 202 0.0 2.0 0.0 1 0.5 0 0.0 MD-012 PM-EC2015-03 1.1 0.0 0.0 0 0.0 13 4.8 17 6.3 . 270 3.0 0.0 0.0 24 8.9 3 1.1 MD-013 PM-EC2015-04 2.5 0.0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 6 2.9 . 204 2.5 0.0 0.5 6 2.9 5 2.5 MD-014 PM-EC2015-05 3.5 0.0 0.3 2 0.5 4 1.0 12 3.0 . 398 0.5 0.0 0.0 32 8.0 16 4.0 MD-015 PM-EC2015-06 0.0 4.8 6.3 1 0.5 11 5.3 5 2.4 0.5 208 0.0 0.0 1.0 5 2.4 11 5.3 MD-016 PM-EC2015-07 1.2 0.4 0.0 0 0.0 3 1.2 11 4.3 . 258 1.6 0.0 0.0 23 8.9 4 1.6 MD-017 PM-EC2015-08 1.0 0.0 0.0 0 0.0 1 0.3 0 0.0 . 302 2.0 0.0 0.0 32 10.6 3 1.0 MD-018 PM-EC2015-09 0.0 0.4 0.0 0 0.0 1 0.4 0 0.0 . 238 1.3 0.0 0.0 30 12.6 1 0.4 MD-019 PM-EC2015-10 0.0 0.0 2.7 2 0.9 7 3.2 1 0.5 . 220 0.0 0.9 0.5 1 0.5 2 0.9 MD-020 PM-EC2015-11 0.0 0.0 0.0 0 0.0 6 3.3 2 1.1 . 181 2.8 1.7 0.0 4 2.2 0 0.0
221
Table A-8. Continuation
sample # MEDID mafic mins % mafic mins MD-001 PM-EC2014-01 1 0.3 MD-002 PM-EC2014-02 6 2.2 MD-003 PM-EC2014-03 18 10.3 MD-004 PM-EC2014-04 50 17.4 MD-005 PM-EC2014-05 8 3.8 MD-006 PM-EC2014-06 17 6.6 MD-007 PM-EC2014-07 7 2.5 MD-008 PM-EC2014-08 4 1.3 MD-009 PM-EC2014-09 21 7.1 MD-010 PM-EC2015-01 0 0.0 MD-011 PM-EC2015-02 0 0.0 MD-012 PM-EC2015-03 25 9.3 MD-013 PM-EC2015-04 11 5.4 MD-014 PM-EC2015-05 14 3.5 MD-015 PM-EC2015-06 6 2.9 MD-016 PM-EC2015-07 15 5.8 MD-017 PM-EC2015-08 6 2.0 MD-018 PM-EC2015-09 3 1.3 MD-019 PM-EC2015-10 1 0.5 MD-020 PM-EC2015-11 7 3.9
222
Table A-9. Particle size index. Silt counts included with very fine in clay samples in bold.
paste vf vf f f m coarse c vc vc gr T vf sample # MEDID group BPSI.5 BPSI1 quartz other quartz other med q other q other quartz other gr other silt .5/1 MD-001 PM-EC2014-01 3b 1.80 1.91 12 10 8 19 1 24 1 24 . 7 . 0 22
MD-002 PM-EC2014-02 1 1.69 1.82 7 18 3 19 5 18 5 22 . 1 . 0 25
MD-003 PM-EC2014-03 2 1.80 1.91 5 9 1 13 3 16 2 14 . 3 . 0 14
MD-004 PM-EC2014-04 2 1.60 1.74 4 32 4 26 8 19 10 20 . 2 . 0 36
MD-005 PM-EC2014-05 3b 1.35 1.44 . 14 . 38 . 15 . 6 . 2 . 0 14
MD-006 PM-EC2014-06 1 1.86 1.94 2 13 6 18 9 13 6 18 . 5 . 0 15
MD-007 PM-EC2014-07 1 1.50 1.61 4 20 9 26 7 22 . 16 . 1 . 0 24
MD-008 PM-EC2014-08 3a 1.11 1.30 . 22 . 18 . 17 . 0 . 0 . 0 22
MD-009 PM-EC2014-09 1 1.35 1.48 11 22 22 25 7 16 3 13 . 1 . 0 33
MD-010 PM-EC2015-01 4B 0.76 1.16 . 3 . 2 . 1 . 1 . 0 . 0 12 15
MD-011 PM-EC2015-02 4A 0.88 1.24 . 6 . 3 . 3 . 2 . 0 . 0 15 21
MD-012 PM-EC2015-03 1 1.60 1.70 6 18 8 31 7 22 10 14 . 2 . 0 24
MD-013 PM-EC2015-04 2 1.42 1.55 3 14 10 11 9 9 3 6 . 0 . 0 17
MD-014 PM-EC2015-05 1 1.94 2.01 7 16 10 35 14 32 5 35 . 13 . 1 23
MD-015 PM-EC2015-06 3a 1.41 1.54 4 14 5 13 5 24 . 4 . 0 . 0 18
MD-016 PM-EC2015-07 2 1.63 1.74 6 13 6 18 6 20 . 20 . 0 . 0 19
MD-017 PM-EC2015-08 1 1.64 1.76 8 18 12 23 6 17 4 16 . 7 . 0 26
MD-018 PM-EC2015-09 1 1.63 1.75 5 18 9 18 5 13 4 19 . 2 . 0 23
MD-019 PM-EC2015-10 3c 1.65 1.75 3 11 7 11 4 15 2 10 . 2 . 0 14
MD-020 PM-EC2015-11 1 1.69 1.79 8 4 9 8 9 8 8 6 1 0 . 0 12
223
Table A-9. Continued
T T fine T med coarse T vc T gr T T T Tc- sample # MEDID 1 2 3 4 5 grains sum.5 sum1 T vf fine med2 vcg %vf %f %med %cvcg MD-001 PM-EC2014-01 27 25 25 7 0 106 191 202 22 27 25 32 20.8 25.5 23.6 30.2 4-modal
MD-002 PM-EC2014-02 22 23 27 1 0 98 165.5 178 25 22 23 28 25.5 22.4 23.5 28.6 4-modal
MD-003 PM-EC2014-03 14 19 16 3 0 66 119 126 14 14 19 19 21.2 21.2 28.8 28.8 4-modal
MD-004 PM-EC2014-04 30 27 30 2 0 125 200 218 36 30 27 32 28.8 24.0 21.6 25.6 4-modal
MD-005 PM-EC2014-05 38 15 6 2 0 75 101 108 14 38 15 8 18.7 50.7 20.0 10.7 3-modal
MD-006 PM-EC2014-06 24 22 24 5 0 90 167.5 175 15 24 22 29 16.7 26.7 24.4 32.2 4-modal
MD-007 PM-EC2014-07 35 29 16 1 0 105 157 169 24 35 29 17 22.9 33.3 27.6 16.2 4-modal
MD-008 PM-EC2014-08 18 17 0 0 0 57 63 74 22 18 17 0 38.6 31.6 29.8 0.0 3-modal
MD-009 PM-EC2014-09 47 23 16 1 0 120 161.5 178 33 47 23 17 27.5 39.2 19.2 14.2 3-modal
MD-010 PM-EC2015-01 2 1 1 0 0 19 14.5 22.0 15 2 1 1 78.9 10.5 5.3 5.3 1-modal
MD-011 PM-EC2015-02 3 3 2 0 0 29 25.5 36.0 21 3 3 2 72.4 10.3 10.3 6.9 1-modal
MD-012 PM-EC2015-03 39 29 24 2 0 118 189 201 24 39 29 26 20.3 33.1 24.6 22.0 4-modal
MD-013 PM-EC2015-04 21 18 9 0 0 65 92.5 101 17 21 18 9 26.2 32.3 27.7 13.8 3-modal
MD-014 PM-EC2015-05 45 46 40 13 1 168 325.5 337 23 45 46 54 13.7 26.8 27.4 32.1 3-modal
MD-015 PM-EC2015-06 18 29 4 0 0 69 97 106 18 18 29 4 26.1 26.1 42.0 5.8 3-modal
MD-016 PM-EC2015-07 24 26 20 0 0 89 145.5 155 19 24 26 20 21.3 27.0 29.2 22.5 4-modal
MD-017 PM-EC2015-08 35 23 20 7 0 111 182 195 26 35 23 27 23.4 31.5 20.7 24.3 4-modal
MD-018 PM-EC2015-09 27 18 23 2 0 93 151.5 163 23 27 18 25 24.7 29.0 19.4 26.9 4-modal
MD-019 PM-EC2015-10 18 19 12 2 0 65 107 114 14 18 19 14 21.5 27.7 29.2 21.5 4-modal
MD-020 PM-EC2015-11 17 17 14 1 0 61 103 109 12 17 17 15 19.7 27.9 27.9 24.6 4-modal
224
Table A-9. Continued
sample # MEDID sorting size modes BPSI.5 Tvff MD-001 PM-EC2014-01 poor c,f,m,vf 1.80 49
MD-002 PM-EC2014-02 poor c,vf,m,f 1.69 47
MD-003 PM-EC2014-03 poor m,c,f,vf 1.80 28
MD-004 PM-EC2014-04 poor vf,c,f,m 1.60 66
MD-005 PM-EC2014-05 poor f,m,vf 1.35 52
MD-006 PM-EC2014-06 poor c,f,m,vf 1.86 39
MD-007 PM-EC2014-07 moderate to poor f,m,vf,c 1.50 59
MD-008 PM-EC2014-08 moderate to poor vf,f,m 1.11 40
MD-009 PM-EC2014-09 poor f,vf,m 1.35 80
MD-010 PM-EC2015-01 good to moderate silt-vf 0.76 17
MD-011 PM-EC2015-02 good to moderate silt-vf 0.88 24
MD-012 PM-EC2015-03 poor f,m,c,vf 1.60 63
MD-013 PM-EC2015-04 moderate to poor f,m,vf 1.42 38
MD-014 PM-EC2015-05 poor c,m,f 1.94 68
MD-015 PM-EC2015-06 moderate to poor m,vf,f 1.41 36
MD-016 PM-EC2015-07 poor m,f,c,vf 1.63 43
MD-017 PM-EC2015-08 poor f,c,vf,m 1.64 61
MD-018 PM-EC2015-09 poor f,c,vf,m 1.63 50
MD-019 PM-EC2015-10 moderate to poor m,f,vf,c 1.65 32
MD-020 PM-EC2015-11 poor f,m,c,vf 1.69 29
225
Table A-10. Key to the headings and abbreviations for petrographic data. Abbreviation Description sample Ann Cordell's id numbers for the samples submitted by Miriam Domínguez PM-EC-year-# Miriam Domínguez id numbers that indicate site name, country, year, and sample number DBS depth bellow surface point # number assigned to the piece plotted samples during the field campaign. UID unique identifier df degrees of freedom in a Student‘s t or χ2 distribution p probability value t Student‘s t or χ2 distribution freq frequent occ occurrence ocfr frequent occurrence rroc rare occurrence std dev standard deviation (or s.d.) BPSI bulk sand size index BPSI.5 bulk sand size index (with very fine grains counting as .5) BPSI1 bulk sand size index (with very fine counting as 1) m, med medium c, crs coarse f fine vf very fine vff very fine and fine cvcg coarse and very coarse granule g, gr granule pb pebble A angular R rounded SA sub-angular SR sub-rounded polyxQ, pxQ polycrystalline quartz or quartzite amphib amphibole plag plagioclase kspar microcline or potassium feldspar felsicR felsic or granitic rock fragment Q, QTZ quartz Tqtz total quartz Tqpq sum of quartz and polyx quartz UID feld UID feldspar Feld sum of feldspars heavy UID minerals heavy sum sum of amphibole, epidote and UID minerals other sum of feldpsars, polyxQ and heavies ferric ferric concretions or nodules Fe sand ferric with imbedded quartz aplast aplastics sand sum of quartz, polyx quartz, feldspars, and heavies nonsand non sum of other aplastics (mica, ferric, spc, etc.) spc sponge spicules phyt phytoliths SSI.5 sand size index (with very fine grains counting as .5) SSI1 sand size index (with very fine counting as 1) mica relative frequency of mica (P=present, rare; b=biotite or pleochroic mica) 1x.5 counting interval 1mm by .5mm, counted once 1x1 counting interval 1mm by 1mm, counted once 1x1x2 counting interval 1mm by 1mm, counted twice CHAR charcoal temper GROG grog temper SAND sand temper CLAY clay sample P present, rare, <1% . not observed N not observed L low (present, rare to occasional, up to 1%) LM low to moderate (occasional to frequent, 1-3%) M moderate (frequent, >3%) L present, rare
226
APPENDIX B NEUTRON ACTIVATION ANALYSIS
227
Table B-1. List of samples for NAA analysis by William Gilstrap (2017). The samples associated with AMS assays have the conventional radiocarbon dates reported by Beta Analytic (*) and Direct AMS. These are dates of charred material from associated excavation levels. This list includes the temper groups and matrix fabric groups identified by Ann Cordell‘s petrographic analysis of the first 20 samples. Item INAA Group Temper Matrix Sample # MEDID category Unit Structure DBS (cm) Point # Level Membership Group Fabric AMS MED001 PM_EC2014_01 Ceramic DL24 1 10-30 2 DOM-1 volcanic A MED002 PM_EC2014_02 Ceramic DL24 1 55-60 6 DOM-2 felsic A MED003 PM_EC2014_03 Ceramic DL24 1 60-65 3471 (28) 7 DOM-1 mafic A MED004 PM_EC2014_04 Ceramic DL24 1 70-80 9 DOM-1 mafic A MED005 PM_EC2014_05 Ceramic DL24 1 90 10 DOM-UNK volcanic B MED006 PM_EC2014_06 Ceramic DL24 1 90-94 12 DOM-UNK felsic A MED007 PM_EC2014_07 Ceramic DL24 1 100-115 14 DOM-1 felsic AB MED008 PM_EC2014_08 Ceramic DL24 1 115 14 DOM-UNK volcanic B MED009 PM_EC2014_09 Ceramic CT-8 2 0-8 2589 (7) 1 DOM-1 felsic AB MED010 PM_EC2015_01 Clay STP10 Reservoir 60 Clay na B MED011 PM_EC2015_02 Clay STP10 Reservoir 110 Clay na A MED012 PM_EC2015_03 Ceramic STP10 Reservoir 85 DOM-1 felsic A MED013 PM_EC2015_04 Ceramic STP10 Reservoir 130 DOM-1 mafic AB MED014 PM_EC2015_05 Ceramic BW50, BY50, BX50 3 0-10 1 DOM-1 felsic A MED015 PM_EC2015_06 Ceramic BX50 3 20 3 DOM-UNK volcanic B MED016 PM_EC2015_07 Ceramic BX50, BY50 3 35-37 5 DOM-UNK mafic A 2433 ± 32 BP MED017 PM_EC2015_08 Ceramic CU-8, CU-9, CU-10 2 27-32 5 DOM-1 felsic A MED018 PM_EC2015_09 Ceramic CU-8, CU-9, CU-10 2 32-38 6 DOM-2 felsic A 2859 ± 25 BP MED019 PM_EC2015_10 Ceramic CS-10, CT-9 West half 2 15-27 2 DOM-UNK volcanic B MED020 PM_EC2015_11 Ceramic CS-9, CT-9 West half 2 60-66 5 DOM-1 felsic A MED021 PM_EC2014_10 Ceramic DL24 1 95-100 3647 (87) 13 DOM-1 2996 ± 31 BP MED022 PM_EC2014_11 Ceramic DL24 1 95-100 3648 (88) 13 DOM-1 2996 ± 31 BP MED023 PM_EC2014_12 Ceramic DL24 1 95-100 3649 (89) 13 DOM-1 2996 ± 31 BP MED024 PM_EC2014_13 Ceramic DL24 1 95-100 3650 (90) 13 DOM-1 2996 ± 31 BP MED025 PM_EC2014_14 Ceramic DL24 1 95-100 3651 (91) 13 DOM-1 2996 ± 31 BP MED026 PM_EC2014_15 Ceramic DL24 1 70-75 3499 (48) 9 DOM-2 MED027 PM_EC2014_16 Ceramic DL24 1 0-5 3389 (2) 1 DOM-1 MED028 PM_EC2014_17 Ceramic DL24 1 0-5 3386 (4) 1 DOM-1 MED029 PM_EC2014_18 Ceramic DL24 1 0-5 3387 (5) 1 DOM-1 MED030 PM_EC2014_19 Ceramic DL24 1 45-50 3455 (15) 4 DOM-1 MED031 PM_EC2014_20 Ceramic DN23 1 0-5 3407 (3) 1 DOM-UNK MED032 PM_EC2014_21 Ceramic DN23 1 5-10 3418 (14) 2 DOM-1 MED033 PM_EC2014_22 Ceramic CT-8 2 75-80 2990 (11) 7 DOM-1 2840 ± 30 BP* MED034 PM_EC2014_23 Ceramic CT-8 2 75-80 2991 (12) 7 DOM-2A 2840 ± 30 BP* MED035 PM_EC2014_24 Ceramic CT-8 2 65-75 2984 (9) 6 DOM-UNK MED036 PM_EC2015_12 Ceramic CU-10, CT-10 East half 2 82-89 13 DOM-1 2805 ± 30 BP MED037 PM_EC2015_13 Ceramic CU-8, CU-9, CU-10 2 73-82 12 DOM-1 2805 ± 30 BP MED038 PM_EC2015_14 Ceramic CT-7 2 67-77 8 DOM-1 MED039 PM_EC2014_25 Ceramic CT-9, CT-10 2 73-82 6 DOM-UNK 3010 ± 25 BP MED040 PM_EC2014_26 Ceramic CS-9, CT-9 West half 2 66-77 6 DOM-2A 3010 ± 25 BP
228
Table B-1. Continued
Sample # MEDID Item Unit Structure DBS (cm) Point # Level INAA Group Temper Matrix AMS category Membership Group Fabric MED041 PM_EC2015_15 Ceramic CU-10, CT-10 East half 2 73-82 6 DOM-1 MED042 PM_EC2015_16 Ceramic CS-9 2 60-66 5 DOM-2 MED043 PM_EC2014_27 Ceramic CT-7 2 0-10 2528 (4) 1 DOM-UNK MED044 PM_EC2014_28 Ceramic CT-7 2 0-10 11 1 DOM-1 MED045 PM_EC2014_29 Ceramic CT-7 2 0-10 2574 (23) 1 DOM-1 MED046 PM_EC2014_30 Ceramic CT-8 2 0-10 2587 (5) 1 DOM-3 MED047 PM_EC2015_17 Ceramic CU-8, CU-9, CU-10 2 20-25 3 DOM-3 MED048 PM_EC2014_31 Ceramic BF-72 4 8-20 1 2 DOM-UNK MED049 PM_EC2014_32 Ceramic BF-71 4 8-20 2 DOM-1 MED050 PM_EC2014_33 Ceramic BF-71 4 20-25 3 DOM-UNK
229
Table B-2. Principal component analysis of the Potrero Mendieta ceramic assemblage. The first eight PCs are shown accounting for more than 91% of the cumulative variance in the dataset. Strong elemental loading of individual components values are shown in bold. Variable PC1 PC2 PC3 PC4 PC5 PC6 PC7 PC8 % Var. 38.27 18.44 12.01 7.03 5.73 4.02 3.32 2.43 Cum. % Var. 38.27 56.71 68.72 75.75 81.48 85.50 88.82 91.25 Eigenvalues: 0.531 0.256 0.167 0.098 0.080 0.056 0.046 0.034 K 0.139 0.083 0.049 0.274 0.221 0.134 -0.161 -0.013 Rb 0.137 0.116 0.128 0.168 0.081 0.266 -0.185 -0.098 U 0.115 0.242 -0.076 0.176 0.226 -0.012 0.322 -0.138 Th 0.093 0.201 0.043 0.092 0.068 0.054 0.126 -0.237 Cs 0.084 -0.001 0.233 -0.011 -0.311 0.393 -0.109 -0.143 Hf 0.072 0.068 0.079 0.063 0.075 0.007 0.103 -0.189 Ta 0.065 0.102 0.061 0.024 -0.018 0.057 0.113 -0.058 Zr 0.054 0.098 0.077 0.039 0.130 -0.036 0.102 -0.236 Na 0.045 -0.214 -0.171 0.167 0.039 0.010 -0.348 0.035 Ba -0.029 0.080 0.005 0.301 -0.183 0.345 0.246 0.384 Al -0.034 -0.024 -0.040 0.053 -0.005 0.024 0.013 0.167 Lu -0.062 0.076 0.212 0.164 -0.046 -0.213 -0.166 -0.064 Ti -0.067 -0.022 0.057 -0.089 -0.024 0.076 0.163 -0.072 Cr -0.070 0.505 -0.258 -0.237 0.119 0.012 -0.221 0.110 Fe -0.078 0.001 0.066 -0.136 -0.054 0.143 -0.005 -0.018 Ce -0.083 0.172 0.020 0.170 -0.043 -0.061 0.085 -0.006 La -0.084 0.177 -0.022 0.209 -0.084 -0.042 0.051 -0.023 Yb -0.097 0.075 0.161 0.170 -0.060 -0.262 -0.114 -0.067 V -0.108 0.008 0.058 -0.147 -0.013 0.152 0.040 -0.117 Dy -0.147 0.042 0.123 0.194 -0.060 -0.216 -0.052 0.041 Sm -0.149 0.113 0.041 0.200 -0.084 -0.150 0.021 0.023 Nd -0.150 0.175 0.013 0.117 -0.110 -0.151 0.230 0.057 Sc -0.170 0.055 0.094 -0.051 -0.132 -0.027 -0.120 -0.035 Co -0.172 0.000 0.108 -0.088 0.045 0.119 0.008 -0.182 Sr -0.179 -0.093 -0.391 0.193 0.014 0.171 0.159 -0.059 Eu -0.179 0.058 -0.044 0.198 -0.059 -0.117 0.038 0.039 Tb -0.187 0.063 0.147 0.151 -0.178 -0.166 -0.137 -0.118 Zn -0.209 0.126 0.038 0.051 -0.224 0.208 -0.092 0.088 Ca -0.281 -0.096 -0.198 0.042 0.046 0.022 -0.107 -0.354 Mn -0.340 -0.093 0.246 -0.005 0.452 0.077 0.016 0.218
230
Table B-3. Mahalanobis distance–based probabilities (p) of group membership for DOM-1. * denotes DOM-1 associated members. Mahalanobis distances calculated using first ten PCs (94.4% total variance). DOM- DOM-1 p Clay p DOM-2 p DOM-2A p DOM-3 p p UNK MED001 1.57 MED010 0.00 MED002 0.11 MED034 0.01 MED046 0.00 MED005 0.05 MED003 96.52 MED011 0.31 MED018 0.85 MED040 0.00 MED047 0.00 MED006 0.22 MED004 49.63 MED026 0.03 MED008 0.21 MED007 21.03 MED042 0.26 MED015 2.57 MED009 88.01 MED016* 18.41 MED012 7.32 MED019 0.15 MED013 37.04 MED031 0.00 MED014 26.82 MED035 0.01 MED021 43.36 MED039 0.72 MED022 70.83 MED043 0.12 MED023 76.05 MED048 0.00 MED024 15.24 MED050 0.79 MED025 75.37 MED027 99.49 MED028 16.96 MED029 42.10 MED030 93.32 MED032 4.18 MED033 15.23 MED036 82.92 MED037 63.83 MED038 96.60 MED041 52.99 MED044 89.62 MED045 4.70 MED049 25.17
231
Table B-4. Total Variation Matrix Na Al K Ca Sc Ti V Cr Mn Fe Co Zn Rb Sr Zr
Na 0 0.157 0.258 0.409 0.368 0.247 0.298 0.852 0.735 0.254 0.376 0.5 0.316 0.301 0.289 Al 0.157 0 0.181 0.272 0.117 0.054 0.098 0.502 0.449 0.067 0.132 0.186 0.198 0.222 0.115 K 0.258 0.181 0 0.681 0.4 0.269 0.326 0.613 0.828 0.282 0.404 0.497 0.046 0.565 0.115 Ca 0.409 0.272 0.681 0 0.199 0.262 0.236 0.718 0.33 0.265 0.182 0.247 0.695 0.141 0.482 Sc 0.368 0.117 0.4 0.199 0 0.084 0.066 0.473 0.311 0.06 0.054 0.089 0.354 0.318 0.219 Ti 0.247 0.054 0.269 0.262 0.084 0 0.025 0.536 0.384 0.02 0.077 0.186 0.243 0.281 0.112 V 0.298 0.098 0.326 0.236 0.066 0.025 0 0.491 0.352 0.016 0.062 0.173 0.291 0.299 0.167 Cr 0.852 0.502 0.613 0.718 0.473 0.536 0.491 0 1.01 0.487 0.558 0.483 0.582 0.688 0.469 Mn 0.735 0.449 0.828 0.33 0.311 0.384 0.352 1.01 0 0.379 0.243 0.387 0.836 0.563 0.612 Fe 0.254 0.067 0.282 0.265 0.06 0.02 0.016 0.487 0.379 0 0.071 0.157 0.239 0.307 0.137 Co 0.376 0.132 0.404 0.182 0.054 0.077 0.062 0.558 0.243 0.071 0 0.155 0.368 0.311 0.217 Zn 0.5 0.186 0.497 0.247 0.089 0.186 0.173 0.483 0.387 0.157 0.155 0 0.442 0.328 0.328 Rb 0.316 0.198 0.046 0.695 0.354 0.243 0.291 0.582 0.836 0.239 0.368 0.442 0 0.629 0.11 Sr 0.301 0.222 0.565 0.141 0.318 0.281 0.299 0.688 0.563 0.307 0.311 0.328 0.629 0 0.448 Zr 0.289 0.115 0.115 0.482 0.219 0.112 0.167 0.469 0.612 0.137 0.217 0.328 0.11 0.448 0 Cs 0.382 0.245 0.288 0.691 0.309 0.22 0.266 0.808 0.833 0.205 0.326 0.389 0.161 0.673 0.225 Ba 0.371 0.172 0.284 0.515 0.267 0.209 0.248 0.622 0.666 0.219 0.299 0.296 0.264 0.354 0.266 La 0.348 0.118 0.257 0.313 0.133 0.145 0.169 0.366 0.526 0.151 0.186 0.144 0.246 0.307 0.155 Ce 0.37 0.107 0.248 0.314 0.116 0.13 0.157 0.372 0.481 0.138 0.165 0.148 0.231 0.33 0.134 Nd 0.483 0.161 0.399 0.307 0.119 0.154 0.163 0.409 0.458 0.163 0.175 0.157 0.393 0.33 0.231 Sm 0.359 0.106 0.318 0.228 0.064 0.119 0.134 0.45 0.371 0.126 0.127 0.11 0.322 0.278 0.185 Eu 0.327 0.098 0.371 0.151 0.074 0.124 0.137 0.486 0.338 0.139 0.122 0.111 0.392 0.186 0.233 Tb 0.422 0.19 0.449 0.261 0.066 0.167 0.162 0.604 0.358 0.162 0.134 0.141 0.423 0.384 0.261 Dy 0.333 0.113 0.331 0.253 0.061 0.117 0.136 0.574 0.321 0.126 0.122 0.156 0.336 0.329 0.199 Yb 0.33 0.128 0.274 0.326 0.075 0.127 0.147 0.545 0.404 0.13 0.142 0.192 0.267 0.411 0.153 Lu 0.326 0.142 0.239 0.395 0.097 0.136 0.16 0.571 0.444 0.137 0.154 0.233 0.217 0.484 0.143 Hf 0.259 0.106 0.105 0.496 0.235 0.108 0.173 0.521 0.645 0.138 0.244 0.331 0.087 0.449 0.022 Ta 0.274 0.1 0.132 0.506 0.215 0.095 0.155 0.449 0.664 0.118 0.235 0.301 0.091 0.438 0.042 Th 0.374 0.193 0.134 0.625 0.314 0.196 0.244 0.416 0.809 0.213 0.338 0.399 0.109 0.544 0.067 U 0.482 0.274 0.17 0.741 0.465 0.319 0.391 0.439 0.956 0.365 0.466 0.541 0.203 0.564 0.151 τ.ι 10.801 5.001 9.467 11.239 5.723 5.145 5.742 16.093 15.694 5.273 6.446 7.806 9.089 11.461 6.287 vt/ 0.362 0.782 0.413 0.348 0.683 0.76 0.681 0.243 0.249 0.742 0.607 0.501 0.43 0.341 0.622 τ.ι r.vτ. 0.586 0.938 0.516 0.371 0.789 0.935 0.875 0.251 0.332 0.916 0.736 0.69 0.534 0.394 0.738
Table B-4. Continued
232
Cs Ba La Ce Nd Sm Eu Tb Dy Yb Lu Hf Ta Th U Na 0.382 0.371 0.348 0.37 0.483 0.359 0.327 0.422 0.333 0.33 0.326 0.259 0.274 0.374 0.482 Al 0.245 0.172 0.118 0.107 0.161 0.106 0.098 0.19 0.113 0.128 0.142 0.106 0.1 0.193 0.274 K 0.288 0.284 0.257 0.248 0.399 0.318 0.371 0.449 0.331 0.274 0.239 0.105 0.132 0.134 0.17 Ca 0.691 0.515 0.313 0.314 0.307 0.228 0.151 0.261 0.253 0.326 0.395 0.496 0.506 0.625 0.741 Sc 0.309 0.267 0.133 0.116 0.119 0.064 0.074 0.066 0.061 0.075 0.097 0.235 0.215 0.314 0.465 Ti 0.22 0.209 0.145 0.13 0.154 0.119 0.124 0.167 0.117 0.127 0.136 0.108 0.095 0.196 0.319 V 0.266 0.248 0.169 0.157 0.163 0.134 0.137 0.162 0.136 0.147 0.16 0.173 0.155 0.244 0.391 Cr 0.808 0.622 0.366 0.372 0.409 0.45 0.486 0.604 0.574 0.545 0.571 0.521 0.449 0.416 0.439 Mn 0.833 0.666 0.526 0.481 0.458 0.371 0.338 0.358 0.321 0.404 0.444 0.645 0.664 0.809 0.956 Fe 0.205 0.219 0.151 0.138 0.163 0.126 0.139 0.162 0.126 0.13 0.137 0.138 0.118 0.213 0.365 Co 0.326 0.299 0.186 0.165 0.175 0.127 0.122 0.134 0.122 0.142 0.154 0.244 0.235 0.338 0.466 Zn 0.389 0.296 0.144 0.148 0.157 0.11 0.111 0.141 0.156 0.192 0.233 0.331 0.301 0.399 0.541 Rb 0.161 0.264 0.246 0.231 0.393 0.322 0.392 0.423 0.336 0.267 0.217 0.087 0.091 0.109 0.203 Sr 0.673 0.354 0.307 0.33 0.33 0.278 0.186 0.384 0.329 0.411 0.484 0.449 0.438 0.544 0.564 Zr 0.225 0.266 0.155 0.134 0.231 0.185 0.233 0.261 0.199 0.153 0.143 0.022 0.042 0.067 0.151 Cs 0 0.291 0.339 0.325 0.449 0.375 0.435 0.372 0.358 0.305 0.261 0.188 0.155 0.248 0.456 Ba 0.291 0 0.179 0.184 0.237 0.197 0.214 0.306 0.233 0.26 0.252 0.247 0.189 0.27 0.347 La 0.339 0.179 0 0.013 0.076 0.051 0.076 0.153 0.112 0.105 0.128 0.161 0.134 0.15 0.246 Ce 0.325 0.184 0.013 0 0.077 0.045 0.076 0.146 0.099 0.097 0.116 0.141 0.121 0.148 0.245 Nd 0.449 0.237 0.076 0.077 0 0.053 0.079 0.146 0.104 0.118 0.161 0.24 0.215 0.274 0.359 Sm 0.375 0.197 0.051 0.045 0.053 0 0.019 0.06 0.023 0.045 0.082 0.196 0.179 0.248 0.349 Eu 0.435 0.214 0.076 0.076 0.079 0.019 0 0.08 0.043 0.088 0.136 0.248 0.232 0.313 0.392 Tb 0.372 0.306 0.153 0.146 0.146 0.06 0.08 0 0.048 0.072 0.102 0.287 0.271 0.372 0.529 Dy 0.358 0.233 0.112 0.099 0.104 0.023 0.043 0.048 0 0.022 0.048 0.207 0.2 0.293 0.413 Yb 0.305 0.26 0.105 0.097 0.118 0.045 0.088 0.072 0.022 0 0.015 0.162 0.16 0.224 0.354 Lu 0.261 0.252 0.128 0.116 0.161 0.082 0.136 0.102 0.048 0.015 0 0.144 0.143 0.211 0.339 Hf 0.188 0.247 0.161 0.141 0.24 0.196 0.248 0.287 0.207 0.162 0.144 0 0.022 0.061 0.168 Ta 0.155 0.189 0.134 0.121 0.215 0.179 0.232 0.271 0.2 0.16 0.143 0.022 0 0.056 0.172 Th 0.248 0.27 0.15 0.148 0.274 0.248 0.313 0.372 0.293 0.224 0.211 0.061 0.056 0 0.12 U 0.456 0.347 0.246 0.245 0.359 0.349 0.392 0.529 0.413 0.354 0.339 0.168 0.172 0.12 0 τ.ι 10.576 8.457 5.485 5.274 6.688 5.22 5.72 7.127 5.708 5.678 6.015 6.392 6.061 7.965 11.014 vt/ 0.37 0.462 0.713 0.742 0.585 0.749 0.684 0.549 0.685 0.689 0.65 0.612 0.645 0.491 0.355 τ.ι r.vτ. 0.673 0.818 0.904 0.922 0.827 0.864 0.752 0.78 0.855 0.926 0.921 0.72 0.731 0.591 0.448 vτ 3.911
233
Table B-5. Principal component analysis of the combined ceramic assemblages produced at MURR from Guayas (Neff 2000), Palmitopamba (Ferguson and Glascock 2009), and Potrero Mendieta (Gilstrap 2017). The first ten PCs are shown accounting for more than 90.74% of the cumulative variance in the dataset. Strong elemental loading of individual components values is shown in bold. Variable PC1 PC2 PC3 PC4 PC5 PC6 PC7 PC8 PC9 PC10 % Var. 36.639 14.960 10.033 7.931 7.177 4.523 3.190 2.610 2.079 1.601 Cum. % Var. 36.639 51.599 61.633 69.565 76.742 81.265 84.456 87.067 89.146 90.748 Eigenvalues: 0.515 0.210 0.141 0.111 0.100 0.063 0.044 0.036 0.029 0.022 Na -0.1046 0.0218 0.1199 0.2231 -0.2369 0.0546 -0.1738 -0.0790 -0.0413 0.3254 Al 0.0080 -0.0597 0.0408 -0.1318 -0.0071 0.1554 0.0304 0.0977 0.1999 -0.1337 K 0.1116 0.1786 0.0247 0.3348 -0.0304 -0.2660 0.2927 -0.0613 -0.0568 0.4329 Ca -0.1556 -0.0946 0.1172 0.3079 -0.3217 0.2336 -0.3075 0.02697 0.1405 0.1574 Sc -0.0015 -0.2346 -0.1641 0.0297 0.0418 -0.0837 0.1058 0.0519 0.2864 0.0146 Ti 0.0651 -0.1861 -0.1018 -0.0871 -0.0573 0.0924 0.0221 -0.0131 0.1637 0.1789 V 0.0302 -0.2492 -0.1254 -0.0203 -0.0335 -0.0453 0.0628 0.1117 0.3085 0.1744 Cr 0.0238 -0.1190 -0.1970 0.4001 0.7157 0.1494 -0.1617 0.3185 -0.1537 0.0769 Mn -0.0405 -0.2810 0.0073 -0.0106 -0.3647 0.0673 0.2311 0.5329 -0.3126 -0.0265 Fe 0.0008 -0.1790 -0.1223 -0.0043 -0.1254 0.0053 0.0695 0.1660 0.2215 0.1301 Co -0.0172 -0.3172 -0.121 0.0783 -0.0699 0.0100 0.0732 0.2594 -0.0960 0.0581 Zn 0.0752 -0.1328 0.0205 0.1499 0.0856 -0.0141 0.0257 0.1005 0.3766 -0.0670 As 0.1834 0.1256 -0.5660 0.1043 -0.2907 0.3385 -0.0660 -0.1277 -0.0453 -0.1543 Rb 0.2698 0.2449 0.0742 0.2193 -0.1191 -0.3720 -0.0106 0.2253 -0.0296 0.1677 Sr -0.11348 0.0831 0.2879 0.4882 -0.0884 0.2970 -0.1111 -0.0531 0.1325 -0.1109 Zr 0.1462 -0.0478 0.0141 -0.1211 0.0272 0.0965 -0.0999 -0.0923 -0.1055 0.2927 Sb 0.3019 0.1447 -0.4583 0.1179 -0.0665 0.1172 -0.1130 -0.0688 -0.0978 -0.0002 Cs 0.3254 0.2750 0.0060 0.0641 -0.1423 -0.2697 -0.1633 0.3421 0.2808 -0.3380 Ba 0.0471 0.1589 0.0320 0.2137 0.0353 0.2881 0.7793 -0.1103 0.0835 -0.0984 La 0.2659 -0.0612 0.2266 0.0360 0.0256 0.0877 -0.0287 0.0227 -0.1117 -0.1412 Ce 0.2607 -0.0908 0.2199 -0.0097 0.0034 0.1422 0.0123 0.0931 -0.1602 -0.0966 Nd 0.2139 -0.1331 0.2044 0.0463 -0.0041 0.0447 -0.0082 -0.0322 -0.1517 -0.1677 Sm 0.1787 -0.1826 0.1202 0.0592 -0.0280 0.0147 -0.0139 -0.0948 -0.0729 -0.1049 Eu 0.1025 -0.2184 0.1274 0.0701 -0.0582 0.0439 -0.0341 -0.1137 -0.0547 -0.1585 Tb 0.1257 -0.2620 0.0170 0.1304 0.0226 -0.1333 -0.0061 -0.22 0.0580 -0.1227 Dy 0.1637 -0.249 -0.0267 0.1206 -0.0288 -0.1186 -0.0144 -0.2406 -0.0687 -0.0473 Yb 0.1596 -0.2360 -0.0370 0.1005 -0.0371 -0.2227 0.0088 -0.2146 -0.0520 -0.036 Lu 0.1587 -0.1986 -0.0636 0.0894 -0.0086 -0.1938 0.0340 -0.2273 0.0167 0.0218 Hf 0.1393 -0.0179 0.0148 -0.1420 0.0180 0.1244 -0.0475 -0.0493 -0.1348 0.2070 Ta 0.2693 -0.0339 0.0984 -0.1807 -0.0248 0.1511 0.0228 0.0190 0.0252 0.3160 Th 0.3577 0.1190 0.1304 -0.1446 0.0484 0.2213 -0.0047 0.1419 -0.0404 0.1397 U 0.2422 0.0233 0.1477 -0.1297 0.1257 0.2100 -0.0472 -0.0469 0.4260 0.1448
234
Table B-6. Group Classification using Mahalanobis Distance in the Ecuadorian samples analyzed at MURR from Guayas (Neff 2000) and Palmitopamba (Ferguson and Glascock 2009), Potrero Mendieta (Gilstrap 2017). The first ten PCs are shown accounting for 90.74 % of the cumulative variance in the dataset. Membership probabilities (%) for samples in group: DOM1 Probabilities calculated after removing each sample from group. ANID DOM_1 GUAYAS_CLAY GUAYAS_CORE GUAYAS_ GUAYAS_ GUAYAS_ GUAYAS_ SALANGO 2 SECO 1 SECO WHITE-ON-RED MED001 7.391199704 0.004541982 4.63862E-12 0.004459122 0.054384873 0.015472457 2.177105186 MED003 92.90848733 0.000663566 4.96944E-10 0.005563112 0.092107621 0.174140103 0.725258416 MED004 32.63088408 0.008646827 2.61107E-08 0.011920087 0.082223974 0.08830652 0.753466667 MED007 0.731635946 3.54518E-08 2.40275E-16 0.000808565 0.014206417 0.003073508 0.852037021 MED009 81.94204429 0.046613821 2.99782E-05 0.011760135 0.299793216 0.86760941 0.836758505 MED012 9.973870135 0.000277729 2.11792E-10 0.002663111 0.018840552 0.00573699 21.36183159 MED013 22.11505667 0.028220717 7.16145E-06 0.004157412 0.047945941 0.018788506 19.04222939 MED014 6.389462963 0.894240922 3.42199E-05 0.006160681 0.070413261 0.40111283 1.428757802 MED021 55.73335432 3.88567E-09 2.99547E-19 0.001035282 0.016212903 0.002801799 1.160859478 MED022 55.85850121 0.000750722 5.47592E-13 0.004055672 0.121736575 0.172127648 0.382241826 MED023 51.73103303 9.97258E-08 3.3862E-17 0.001528417 0.012547689 0.001893591 6.118464701 MED024 13.16245556 0.000336301 4.11407E-11 0.001308204 0.050386507 0.03219568 0.737980749 MED025 73.69631865 0.000103988 2.88853E-11 0.00149978 0.22657728 0.839560741 0.405216418 MED027 99.24413448 0.000314073 3.12398E-09 0.010329121 0.109642991 0.144794915 0.998761158 MED028 8.036742029 1.98603E-07 7.84521E-16 0.001932654 0.091787547 0.012812102 0.790888786 MED029 67.94767443 1.56343E-05 4.08554E-12 0.003767282 0.054091915 0.024510977 1.697602433 MED030 86.37507374 0.011176189 1.33485E-09 0.01260339 0.090587213 0.152205674 0.826075682 MED032 40.90881289 6.2476E-07 2.59216E-15 0.004929057 0.017433204 0.00168258 4.879687438 MED033 73.18095995 0.000547701 6.30261E-08 0.013733534 0.088356712 0.090177409 3.382015783 MED036 99.49453133 6.01768E-05 8.31553E-12 0.003572971 0.070020415 0.067853776 1.084763309 MED037 60.65336511 0.001964617 2.71789E-11 0.011744596 0.053382772 0.057150502 1.534009985 MED038 92.73192127 0.000483637 3.09101E-11 0.008684477 0.065918521 0.075676546 0.923696665 MED041 88.60031206 0.004339367 1.05371E-08 0.009348145 0.142271593 0.164217164 0.734261633 MED044 62.41602075 0.180521655 8.41688E-05 0.032946597 0.204938838 0.760434742 1.05113429
235
Table B-6. Continuation
ANID DOM_1 GUAYAS_CLAY GUAYAS_CORE GUAYAS_ GUAYAS_ GUAYAS_ GUAYAS_ SALANGO 2 SECO 1 SECO WHITE-ON-RED MED045 4.051007328 1.98216E-07 4.52418E-15 0.021243349 0.013719868 0.002273611 14.4669065 MED049 41.7346723 2.74961E-06 5.54562E-14 0.005298009 0.097513636 0.126986964 0.528689733
ANID PALMITOPAMBA_ PALMITOPAMBA_ PALMITOPAMBA_ PALMITOPAMBA_ Best Group CLAY COSANGA PALM SIERRA 1 MED001 1.859063676 5.10892E-08 2.55556E-07 1.072777811 DOM_1 MED003 15.66483801 3.21596E-06 1.04037E-07 1.305258638 DOM_1 MED004 6.374006308 2.97275E-05 1.10221E-07 1.363449772 DOM_1 MED007 0.047885546 1.03676E-09 1.24809E-07 1.908811053 PALMITOPAMBA_SIERRA 1 MED009 41.76915637 8.90477E-06 0.000194823 1.356781364 DOM_1 MED012 0.494479934 1.30393E-06 2.0695E-08 1.105303183 GUAYAS_WHITE-ON-RED MED013 0.533278267 3.46334E-06 4.5999E-08 0.976337475 DOM_1 MED014 0.690994943 0.000818225 2.07348E-07 1.75408744 DOM_1 MED021 0.0103051 2.79766E-11 2.53102E-08 1.174898342 DOM_1 MED022 2.7529485 2.87691E-09 4.54134E-05 1.891816195 DOM_1 MED023 0.03912867 5.87884E-10 7.29614E-09 0.91642222 DOM_1 MED024 0.055867217 2.56907E-07 5.45459E-08 1.561642406 DOM_1 MED025 16.66805812 1.35679E-07 1.06063E-05 1.486203389 DOM_1 MED027 18.05650143 1.16235E-06 3.73397E-06 1.493394377 DOM_1 MED028 0.735764051 2.74046E-09 2.59544E-07 1.501048196 DOM_1 MED029 3.773923009 7.48398E-07 7.35177E-08 1.334542172 DOM_1 MED030 15.46235522 2.75512E-06 3.57344E-07 1.345389988 DOM_1 MED032 0.022904006 4.81684E-08 1.76623E-09 1.246430207 DOM_1 MED033 13.93393584 9.42903E-07 2.39672E-05 1.69452469 DOM_1 MED036 8.856527259 1.58612E-07 2.34556E-06 1.572442083 DOM_1 MED037 4.009106376 9.95536E-07 5.76717E-09 1.216480288 DOM_1 MED038 6.662728901 1.00932E-06 4.60244E-08 1.374210443 DOM_1 MED041 27.87651267 1.13327E-06 5.37441E-05 1.480444917 DOM_1
236
Table B-6. Continuation
ANID PALMITOPAMBA_ PALMITOPAMBA_ PALMITOPAMBA_ PALMITOPAMBA_ Best Group CLAY COSANGA PALM SIERRA 1 MED044 40.62333766 1.17445E-05 0.000590042 1.921422382 DOM_1 MED045 0.009899433 2.09807E-09 2.94056E-08 1.237062152 GUAYAS_WHITE-ON-RED MED049 3.239767666 3.23855E-09 4.1712E-06 2.426084008 DOM_1
Membership probabilities (%) for samples in group: DOM2 Probabilities calculated after removing each sample from group. GUAYAS_ GUAYAS_ GUAYAS_ GUAYAS_ GUAYAS_ ANID DOM_1 CLAY CORE SALANGO 2 SECO 1 GUAYAS_SECO WHITE-ON-RED MED002 0.013363978 1.608E-05 1.86789E-13 0.47995117 0.018959523 0.014222177 6.650740906 MED018 0.201544809 9.75158E-11 6.9798E-20 0.008533753 0.006670268 0.000654773 3.219719015 MED026 0.001062259 1.50098E-05 7.34408E-13 0.762830503 0.017486202 0.019232971 7.885276976 MED042 0.052307395 0.000168522 2.73012E-12 0.645033647 0.024496512 0.026896503 6.355540616
PALMITOPAMBA_ PALMITOPAMBA_ PALMITOPAMBA_ PALMITOPAMBA_ ANID CLAY COSANGA PALM SIERRA 1 Best Group MED002 0.002240516 1.12867E-10 8.32661E-08 1.593633384 GUAYAS_WHITE-ON-RED MED018 1.73546E-05 1.21168E-11 4.59879E-11 1.38357542 GUAYAS_WHITE-ON-RED MED026 0.000957656 7.40807E-11 6.81917E-08 1.282220438 GUAYAS_WHITE-ON-RED MED042 0.018148967 2.9167E-10 7.83011E-07 1.657368811 GUAYAS_WHITE-ON-RED
Membership probabilities (%) for samples in group: DOM2A Probabilities calculated after removing each sample from group. GUAYAS_ GUAYAS_ ANID DOM_1 GUAYAS_CLAY GUAYAS_CORE SALANGO 2 GUAYAS_SECO 1 GUAYAS_SECO WHITE-ON-RED MED034 0.000309609 2.48391E-06 3.38847E-15 0.399083684 0.021322756 0.019033825 3.534879759 MED040 7.31496E-05 3.08827E-06 1.23786E-14 0.411566586 0.022049748 0.032002833 3.019624739
PALMITOPAMBA_ PALMITOPAMBA_ PALMITOPAMBA_ PALMITOPAMBA_SIERRA Best Group ANID CLAY COSANGA PALM 1 MED034 0.000165784 1.80013E-12 6.29762E-08 1.194838434 GUAYAS_ WHITE-ON-RED MED040 0.000243739 1.25215E-12 1.09358E-06 1.044575416 GUAYAS_WHITE-ON-RED
237
Table B-6. Continuation
Membership probabilities (%) for samples in group: DOM3 Probabilities calculated after removing each sample from group. GUAYAS_ GUAYAS_WHITE- ANID DOM_1 GUAYAS_CLAY GUAYAS_CORE SALANGO 2 GUAYAS_SECO 1 GUAYAS_SECO ON-RED MED046 0.053739814 0.011674157 2.13067E-05 0.000548621 0.073244651 0.106373314 0.365149451 MED047 0.004913515 0.001215129 2.23662E-05 4.33747E-05 0.045630015 0.010753156 1.379767246
PALMITOPAMBA_ PALMITOPAMBA_ PALMITOPAMBA_ PALMITOPAMBA_ ANID CLAY COSANGA PALM SIERRA 1 Best Group MED046 0.009137174 1.36523E-06 4.67528E-11 0.947338774 PALMITOPAMBA_ SIERRA 1 MED047 0.003733401 1.22305E-05 3.84229E-11 0.655909521 GUAYAS WHITE-ON-RED
Membership probabilities (%) for samples in group: DOM_CLAY Probabilities calculated after removing each sample from group. GUAYAS_ GUAYAS_WHITE-ON- ANID DOM_1 GUAYAS_CLAY GUAYAS_CORE SALANGO 2 GUAYAS_SECO 1 GUAYAS_SECO RED MED010 2.92532E-05 0.712079547 2.96234E-10 0.022771151 0.013871573 0.023702856 0.625088187 MED011 0.005838506 1.820536217 2.61052E-09 0.001891134 0.009876046 0.009509542 1.177671283
PALMITOPAMBA_ PALMITOPAMBA_ PALMITOPAMBA_ PALMITOPAMBA_ ANID CLAY COSANGA PALM SIERRA 1 Best Group MED010 0.003064819 8.61481E-09 1.20768E-12 0.726084309 PALMITOPAMBA_SIERRA 1 MED011 0.000127318 4.11122E-05 2.901E-15 0.667744228 GUAYAS_CLAY
Membership probabilities (%) for samples in group: DOM_UNASSIGNED Probabilities calculated after removing each sample from group. GUAYAS_ GUAYAS_ ANID DOM_1 GUAYAS_CLAY GUAYAS_CORE SALANGO 2 GUAYAS_SECO 1 GUAYAS_SECO WHITE-ON-RED MED005 2.279331168 0.000141028 1.84285E-10 0.040188048 0.028172662 0.009699716 23.70246103 MED006 0.913704903 4.29314E-06 1.13499E-13 0.083283364 0.021276387 0.009576358 9.919555781 MED008 9.677108706 0.000139751 2.74701E-13 0.004891267 0.056446944 0.004139144 9.608154242 MED015 0.645416708 7.21244E-05 2.7702E-09 0.086708512 0.013939796 0.011210129 10.37801392 MED016 13.33227535 2.11611E-07 1.83257E-10 0.003621275 0.071667453 0.061782162 3.48208567 MED019 0.030242446 5.89E-09 1.12862E-17 0.027676345 0.008514267 0.002384226 4.591581965 MED031 0.039881885 0.036049694 1.99071E-09 0.034981182 0.079257105 0.099071416 0.563366494
238
Table B-6. Continuation
GUAYAS_ GUAYAS_ ANID DOM_1 GUAYAS_CLAY GUAYAS_CORE SALANGO 2 GUAYAS_SECO 1 GUAYAS_SECO WHITE-ON-RED MED035 0.001546812 0.025079271 2.21106E-05 0.137429907 0.047798258 0.16774475 0.739170859 MED039 0.170637547 0.006460869 1.11981E-08 0.327661078 0.027608421 0.065350754 3.761302006 MED043 0.175361392 0.00398984 0.000128739 0.111121844 0.032966865 0.082016696 1.945609136 MED048 0.003052731 33.43462458 0.000266701 0.447689568 1.112039478 25.12775363 0.117782211 MED050 10.37981433 4.74982E-05 6.20698E-12 0.000368793 0.287258812 3.310252695 0.272676811
ANID PALMITOPAMBA_ PALMITOPAMBA_ CLAY PALMITOPAMBA_COSANGA PALMITOPAMBA_PALM SIERRA 1 Best Group MED005 0.369224986 2.19452E-08 1.0824E-05 2.449737165 GUAYAS_WHITE-ON-RED MED006 0.031803635 1.08332E-09 1.28942E-06 2.246183955 GUAYAS_WHITE-ON-RED MED008 0.031266223 4.62786E-09 6.28874E-08 1.403829542 DOM_1 MED015 0.001632227 9.25553E-06 3.73955E-09 2.076950124 GUAYAS_WHITE-ON-RED MED016 5.35824324 3.07013E-08 1.30033E-06 1.670194064 DOM_1 MED019 0.000148699 8.87604E-12 4.02195E-09 1.109120699 GUAYAS_WHITE-ON-RED MED031 3.329228768 2.14309E-08 1.32691E-06 1.654947901 PALMITOPAMBA_CLAY MED035 0.55772662 1.32023E-09 4.9384E-06 1.049684514 PALMITOPAMBA_SIERRA 1 MED039 0.204295248 1.68255E-08 3.53923E-06 2.529531026 GUAYAS_WHITE-ON-RED MED043 0.07052387 9.31147E-07 2.83911E-07 1.624036489 GUAYAS_WHITE-ON-RED MED048 37.52055989 3.05203E-08 1.58887E-06 2.971914209 PALMITOPAMBA_CLAY MED050 4.29010205 3.67116E-07 4.50589E-09 0.98396327 DOM_1
239
Table B-7. Total Variation Matrix calculations for the combined datasets from Guayas (Neff 2000), Palmitopamba (Ferguson and Glascock 2009) and Potrero Mendieta (Gilstrap 2017). The element contributing MOST to dataset variation is Chromium (Cr) The element contributing LEAST to dataset variation is Samarium (Sm). Na Al K Ca Sc Ti Cr Mn Fe Co Zn As Rb Sr Zr Na 0 0.242 0.363 0.167 0.327 0.32 0.725 0.372 0.243 0.326 0.316 0.729 0.573 0.203 0.375 Al 0.242 0 0.382 0.351 0.127 0.105 0.555 0.267 0.102 0.198 0.139 0.557 0.499 0.395 0.154 K 0.363 0.382 0 0.587 0.41 0.414 0.645 0.61 0.378 0.509 0.29 0.585 0.181 0.456 0.335 Ca 0.167 0.351 0.587 0 0.39 0.409 0.818 0.364 0.322 0.364 0.39 0.875 0.836 0.241 0.531 Sc 0.327 0.127 0.41 0.39 0 0.091 0.437 0.265 0.055 0.094 0.115 0.565 0.586 0.532 0.238 Ti 0.32 0.105 0.414 0.409 0.091 0 0.555 0.268 0.077 0.132 0.139 0.49 0.507 0.537 0.121 Cr 0.725 0.555 0.645 0.818 0.437 0.555 0 0.87 0.552 0.506 0.408 0.9 0.861 0.715 0.576 Mn 0.372 0.267 0.61 0.364 0.265 0.268 0.87 0 0.189 0.167 0.352 0.784 0.764 0.587 0.412 Fe 0.243 0.102 0.378 0.322 0.055 0.077 0.552 0.189 0 0.09 0.136 0.491 0.517 0.468 0.208 Co 0.326 0.198 0.509 0.364 0.094 0.132 0.506 0.167 0.09 0 0.196 0.647 0.679 0.529 0.292 Zn 0.316 0.139 0.29 0.39 0.115 0.139 0.408 0.352 0.136 0.196 0 0.59 0.401 0.398 0.186 As 0.729 0.557 0.585 0.875 0.565 0.49 0.9 0.784 0.491 0.647 0.59 0 0.607 0.983 0.502 Rb 0.573 0.499 0.181 0.836 0.586 0.507 0.861 0.764 0.517 0.679 0.401 0.607 0 0.725 0.351 Sr 0.203 0.395 0.456 0.241 0.532 0.537 0.715 0.587 0.468 0.529 0.398 0.983 0.725 0 0.574 Zr 0.375 0.154 0.335 0.531 0.238 0.121 0.576 0.412 0.208 0.292 0.186 0.502 0.351 0.574 0 Sb 0.852 0.602 0.503 1.041 0.594 0.478 0.797 0.912 0.572 0.703 0.539 0.257 0.41 1.058 0.41 Cs 0.766 0.533 0.398 1 0.675 0.557 1.025 0.893 0.611 0.809 0.475 0.59 0.12 0.919 0.404 Ba 0.431 0.318 0.293 0.588 0.424 0.397 0.674 0.592 0.402 0.519 0.343 0.632 0.51 0.419 0.393 La 0.527 0.271 0.354 0.703 0.406 0.28 0.678 0.547 0.367 0.445 0.231 0.667 0.265 0.613 0.161 Ce 0.532 0.254 0.388 0.706 0.393 0.265 0.695 0.49 0.348 0.412 0.237 0.667 0.305 0.633 0.154 Nd 0.445 0.219 0.343 0.585 0.307 0.219 0.627 0.425 0.276 0.334 0.179 0.656 0.313 0.552 0.141 Sm 0.372 0.165 0.319 0.495 0.202 0.138 0.567 0.343 0.19 0.233 0.124 0.58 0.33 0.51 0.111 Eu 0.29 0.125 0.354 0.373 0.158 0.113 0.557 0.267 0.145 0.162 0.112 0.622 0.428 0.41 0.134 Tb 0.401 0.227 0.379 0.495 0.155 0.16 0.527 0.377 0.195 0.209 0.143 0.645 0.46 0.561 0.208 Dy 0.411 0.234 0.348 0.522 0.161 0.133 0.542 0.368 0.187 0.203 0.149 0.541 0.394 0.6 0.161 Yb 0.42 0.242 0.328 0.541 0.153 0.147 0.566 0.36 0.181 0.206 0.153 0.558 0.366 0.625 0.169 Lu 0.41 0.224 0.298 0.54 0.139 0.133 0.534 0.377 0.168 0.21 0.14 0.513 0.346 0.61 0.146 Hf 0.35 0.122 0.322 0.522 0.232 0.109 0.57 0.388 0.193 0.288 0.18 0.474 0.336 0.547 0.033 Ta 0.595 0.276 0.43 0.789 0.412 0.228 0.814 0.577 0.357 0.478 0.295 0.595 0.322 0.791 0.134 Th 0.808 0.435 0.489 1.053 0.659 0.459 0.909 0.843 0.591 0.759 0.464 0.642 0.3 0.948 0.256 U 0.634 0.273 0.423 0.808 0.464 0.347 0.71 0.708 0.43 0.595 0.293 0.653 0.37 0.718 0.195 τ.ι 13.526 8.593 12.116 7.405 9.767 8.328 19.917 14.738 9.041 11.293 8.112 18.597 13.663 17.854 8.066 vt/ τ.ι 0.427 0.672 0.477 0.332 0.592 0.694 0.29 0.392 0.639 0.512 0.712 0.311 0.423 0.324 0.716 r.vτ 0.38 0.845 0.535 0.268 0.731 0.891 0.307 0.603 0.744 0.656 0.902 0.158 0.418 0.19 0.942
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Table B-7. Continued
Sb Cs Ba La Ce Nd Sm Eu Tb Dy Yb Lu Hf Ta Th U Na 0.852 0.766 0.431 0.527 0.532 0.445 0.372 0.29 0.401 0.411 0.42 0.41 0.35 0.595 0.808 0.634 Al 0.602 0.533 0.318 0.271 0.254 0.219 0.165 0.125 0.227 0.234 0.242 0.224 0.122 0.276 0.435 0.273 K 0.503 0.398 0.293 0.354 0.388 0.343 0.319 0.354 0.379 0.348 0.328 0.298 0.322 0.43 0.489 0.423 Ca 1.041 1 0.588 0.703 0.706 0.585 0.495 0.373 0.495 0.522 0.541 0.54 0.522 0.789 1.053 0.808 Sc 0.594 0.675 0.424 0.406 0.393 0.307 0.202 0.158 0.155 0.161 0.153 0.139 0.232 0.412 0.659 0.464 Ti 0.478 0.557 0.397 0.28 0.265 0.219 0.138 0.113 0.16 0.133 0.147 0.133 0.109 0.228 0.459 0.347 Cr 0.797 1.025 0.674 0.678 0.695 0.627 0.567 0.557 0.527 0.542 0.566 0.534 0.57 0.814 0.909 0.71 Mn 0.912 0.893 0.592 0.547 0.49 0.425 0.343 0.267 0.377 0.368 0.36 0.377 0.388 0.577 0.843 0.708 Fe 0.572 0.611 0.402 0.367 0.348 0.276 0.19 0.145 0.195 0.187 0.181 0.168 0.193 0.357 0.591 0.43 Co 0.703 0.809 0.519 0.445 0.412 0.334 0.233 0.162 0.209 0.203 0.206 0.21 0.288 0.478 0.759 0.595 Zn 0.539 0.475 0.343 0.231 0.237 0.179 0.124 0.112 0.143 0.149 0.153 0.14 0.18 0.295 0.464 0.293 As 0.257 0.59 0.632 0.667 0.667 0.656 0.58 0.622 0.645 0.541 0.558 0.513 0.474 0.595 0.642 0.653 Rb 0.41 0.12 0.51 0.265 0.305 0.313 0.33 0.428 0.46 0.394 0.366 0.346 0.336 0.322 0.3 0.37 Sr 1.058 0.919 0.419 0.613 0.633 0.552 0.51 0.41 0.561 0.6 0.625 0.61 0.547 0.791 0.948 0.718 Zr 0.41 0.404 0.393 0.161 0.154 0.141 0.111 0.134 0.208 0.161 0.169 0.146 0.033 0.134 0.256 0.195 Sb 0 0.363 0.627 0.485 0.502 0.525 0.485 0.584 0.565 0.467 0.468 0.422 0.388 0.43 0.423 0.517 Cs 0.363 0 0.635 0.312 0.355 0.386 0.41 0.524 0.552 0.49 0.468 0.44 0.382 0.342 0.273 0.37 Ba 0.627 0.635 0 0.441 0.449 0.424 0.401 0.399 0.475 0.47 0.484 0.437 0.347 0.48 0.556 0.48 La 0.485 0.312 0.441 0 0.023 0.04 0.067 0.136 0.225 0.179 0.195 0.194 0.152 0.111 0.144 0.164 Ce 0.502 0.355 0.449 0.023 0 0.049 0.067 0.131 0.23 0.183 0.201 0.199 0.138 0.099 0.141 0.167 Nd 0.525 0.386 0.424 0.04 0.049 0 0.031 0.074 0.155 0.119 0.134 0.138 0.136 0.146 0.232 0.204 Sm 0.485 0.41 0.401 0.067 0.067 0.031 0 0.025 0.087 0.051 0.064 0.071 0.108 0.149 0.28 0.218 Eu 0.584 0.524 0.399 0.136 0.131 0.074 0.025 0 0.086 0.066 0.082 0.093 0.133 0.23 0.414 0.288 Tb 0.565 0.552 0.475 0.225 0.23 0.155 0.087 0.086 0 0.068 0.075 0.081 0.204 0.292 0.483 0.375 Dy 0.467 0.49 0.47 0.179 0.183 0.119 0.051 0.066 0.068 0 0.028 0.034 0.169 0.242 0.421 0.343 Yb 0.468 0.468 0.484 0.195 0.201 0.134 0.064 0.082 0.075 0.028 0 0.017 0.178 0.254 0.435 0.346 Lu 0.422 0.44 0.437 0.194 0.199 0.138 0.071 0.093 0.081 0.034 0.017 0 0.154 0.235 0.405 0.305 Hf 0.388 0.382 0.347 0.152 0.138 0.136 0.108 0.133 0.204 0.169 0.178 0.154 0 0.111 0.221 0.194 Ta 0.43 0.342 0.48 0.111 0.099 0.146 0.149 0.23 0.292 0.242 0.254 0.235 0.111 0 0.099 0.174 Th 0.423 0.273 0.556 0.144 0.141 0.232 0.28 0.414 0.483 0.421 0.435 0.405 0.221 0.099 0 0.175 U 0.517 0.37 0.48 0.164 0.167 0.204 0.218 0.288 0.375 0.343 0.346 0.305 0.194 0.174 0.175 0 τ.ι 16.977 16.077 14.041 9.382 9.415 8.413 7.194 7.517 9.096 8.285 8.444 8.014 7.683 10.486 14.318 11.942 vt/ τ.ι 0.34 0.359 0.412 0.616 0.614 0.687 0.803 0.769 0.635 0.697 0.684 0.721 0.752 0.551 0.404 0.484 r.vτ 0.247 0.359 0.488 0.795 0.821 0.911 0.966 0.939 0.93 0.946 0.943 0.947 0.932 0.764 0.514 0.697 vτ 5.779
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Figure B-1. Principal component biplot of first two components (56.7 % total variance) showing clays and ceramic samples. Elemental loading vectors are shown and labeled.
Figure B-2. Bivariate plot comparing Manganese (Mn) and Chromium (Cr) concentrations (ppm). Ellipses are drawn at the 90% confidence interval.
242
Figure B-3. Bivariate plot comparing Cesium (Cs) and Scandium (Sc) concentrations (ppm). Ellipses are drawn at the 90% confidence interval.
Figure B-4. Principal component biplot of first two components (51.6 % total variance) showing clays and ceramic samples from the three MURR datasets. Elemental loading vectors are shown and labeled.
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH
Miriam Edith Domínguez was born and raised in Cuenca, Ecuador. She first left Ecuador in 1998 and has lived an itinerant life ever since. While learning English at Nassau Community
College, she became interested in anthropology and went on to earn a B.A. in anthropology and
French at SUNY Stony Brook in 2005. She attended SUNY Binghamton, where she received an
M.A. in anthropology in 2010. At the University of Florida, Miriam found her way back to
Ecuador to conduct archaeological research and received a Ph.D. in anthropology in 2017. Since
2007, she has been married to Jacob Lawson and they currently live in Gainesville, Florida, with their daughter, Beatrice, and their cat, Teacup.
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