The Chaîne Opératoire Meets Colonial Transformations: A GIS Network Analysis of Quicklime Production in the Colca Valley, Peru

Summary

This is an abstract from the "SAA 2023: Individual Abstracts" session, at the 88th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

In the sixteenth century the Spanish introduced new building technologies such as masonry arches, ceramic roof tiles, and quicklime-based products to Andean architectural traditions. The incorporation of these technologies changed the day-to-day experience of building construction, as local laborers created new routines in order to source, produce, and utilize these materials. However, the extent and nature of these changes is not well understood, as current studies of Peruvian colonial architecture and their role in colonizing processes have focused on the phenomenological impact of buildings as a whole or specific, stylistic aspects. Using preliminary data collected during the summer 2022, this study aims to elucidate the spatial relationships between different phases of quicklime production in the upper Colca Valley with a GIS spatial network analysis. Quicklime, a primary ingredient in mortar and whitewash, was often used in colonial structures like churches. Producing quicklime and its affiliated materials is labor intensive and location specific; it requires kilns, large amounts of fuel, convenient transportation, and proximity to both water and limestone. Spatially locating the chaîne opératoire of quicklime enables future comparisons to other material production sequences and thus helps scholars better understand how Spanish colonialism impacted local architectural traditions and daily life.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• SAA 2023: Individual Abstracts   •
• Society for American Archaeology 88th Annual Meeting, Portland, OR (2023)

Keywords

Spatial Coverage

Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 37521.0