Clay mineralogy of raw materials and ancient pottery from archaeological sites in the Ambato valley, Catamarca, Argentina

摘要

Pottery sherds from El Altillo (1900+-70 BP radiocarbon age) and Piedras Blancas (ca.600-1000 AC) archaeological sites, in the Ambato valley, and two local clay sources, were characterized for their mineralogy and chemistry. Raw materials used were predominantly the red clays with minor proportions of the off-white clays. Firing rages of <700℃, 700-800℃ and 800->900℃ were inferred from the mineralogy and SEM textures. No significant changes were observed in the ceramic technology. Thus, it does not reflect the socio-political changes that occurred in the Ⅳ century confirming the continuity of the ceramic tradition, a good usage of natural resources and a knowledge of their properties within a period of 1000 years.