Abstract

ZAGORODNY, Nora; ANGIORAMA, Carlos; BECERRA, M. Florencia  and  PEREZ PIERONI, M. Josefina. Evidencias de actividades metalúrgicas en el sitio Campo de Carrizal (Belén, Catamarca). Intersecciones antropol. [online]. 2015, vol.16, n.3, pp.439-450. ISSN 1850-373X.

This paper presents evidence of past metallurgical activities in the area of Azampay (Belén, Catamarca). The material comes from Campo de Carrizal site, occupied during the Late Period in the Valliserrana Region in the Argentinean Northwest. The site is formed by a set of habitation cores with one or more sub-rectangular enclosures built on artificially terraced levels on three spurs of a hill located in the southern part of the Quebrada de Carrizal. The habitation cores are surrounded by large agriculture fields. In two of the excavated enclosures - Esp.2 NH2 Rec. 1 and Esp.3 NH2 Rec.1 - evidence of metallurgical activities were found, including fragments of metal and mineral, slag, and refractory pottery sherds. In this paper, the results of the analysis are presented. The analysis suggests that in Campo de Carrizal copper was obtained by smelting, and subsequently alloyed with tin to form bronze, probably in some of the recovered crucibles. In addition, objects were made by casting into moulds and possibly by lamination.

Keywords : Metallurgy; Late Period; Valliserrana Area.

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