A multi-analytical approach to understand El Alto-Ancasti's painted pottery (north-western Argentina): Non-invasive and micro-invasive analyses of vessel's paintings from El Taco 19

Abstract

Archaeometric analysis applied to the study of pre-Hispanic pottery is a growing field in archaeological research in north-western Argentina. Most of these investigations have focused on intra-style variability, comparing samples from the same style but obtained in different sites throughout large regions. In this study, we propose to shift the approach and adopt a local micro-scale perspective to deepen knowledge regarding pottery manufacturing. As a case study, pottery sherds from different styles discovered in the archaeological site El Taco 19 (El Alto-Ancasti Mountain, Catamarca) were selected. To this end, we proposed a multi-analytical approach employing non-invasive and micro-invasive analytical techniques.