Are "Coastal Cajamarca" vessels local imitations? Petrographic analysis of ceramic vessels from the Late Moche (AD 600 – 850) settlement "Huaca Colorada" in the Jequetepeque Valley, Peru

Summary

The site of Huaca Colorada, in the Jequetepeque Valley, on the North Coast of Peru, is an ideal location to examine cultural interchange and technological innovation from both a production and consumption perspective due to its occupation during the Middle Horizon (AD 600 – 1000). This period is marked by sustained cultural interaction throughout the Peruvian Andes. Evidence for this interchange at Huaca Colorada is found in the mixing of a number of different ceramic traditions within individual vessels, as well as in the inclusion of both traditional and foreign imports. In this paper, I will be presenting my analysis of paste recipes in the Huaca Colorada assemblage to highlight potential instances of technological mixing. I will be examining "Coastal Cajamarca" plates, a technological innovation linked to the spread of highland aesthetics and practices into coastal regions. A comparison of the geology of the valley with the petrographic data will determine whether the mineral inclusions in Coastal Cajamarca vessels are present or absent in the Jequetepeque. Furthermore, a comparison of paste recipes with traditional, locally produced vessels will highlight whether there are similarities in the technological traditions between local coastal potters and producers of Coastal Cajamarca vessels.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 81st Annual Meeting, Orlando, FL (2016)

Keywords

Spatial Coverage