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Technological Study of Pre-Columbian Mochica and Cajamarca Ceramics

(8th-10th c. AD, Peru) using Cathodoluminescence, SEM-EDS and pXRF
Techniques

Conference Paper · September 2015

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 Technological Study of Pre-Columbian Mochica and Cajamarca Ceramics
th th
(8 -10 c. AD, Peru) using Cathodoluminescence, SEM-EDS and pXRF Techniques
*
N. Del Solar1, R. Chapoulie1, L.J. Castillo2, P. Dollwetzel1, S. Kinis3 and R. Joannes-Boyau3
1 IRAMAT-CRP2A UMR 5060 CNRS, Université Bordeaux Montaigne - Maison de l’Archéologie - Esplanade des Antilles, Domaine universitaire,
Pessac 33607, France /// contact: nvdelsolarve@u-bordeaux-montaigne.fr or remy.chapoulie@u-bordeaux-montaigne.fr
2 Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú, Lima, Perú /// contact: lcastil@pucp.edu.pe
3 Southern Cross GeoScience - Southern Cross University, Lismore-Australia /// contact: renaud.joannes-boyau@scu.edu.au

1. Introduction ➋
• One characteristic of the Jequetepeque Valley (northern Peru) is the presence of
pre-Columbian archaeological sites showing the social exchange between the
Mochica society (a Pacific coastal culture) and the Cajamarca society (a Highland
Andean culture) [1, 2]. No historical records exists for this exchanges. Both societies
were complex cultures without writing [3].
• The geographical separation was no limitation for both cultures to multiply
exchanges of various ceramic types during three centuries (Late Mochica period
(8th-9th c. AD) and the Transitionnal period (9th-10th c. AD)) [4].
• San José de Moro (Fig. 1) is an exceptional and unique Mochica site as it ➊
documents the merging of both cultures after the 8th c. AD. Fig. 1. ➊ : Peru / ➋ : Jequetepeque Valley and San José de Moro site (green circle)

2. Sampling, Methodology & Assets

• Seventy sherds (n=70), excavated at San José De Moro (Fig. 2), were analysed by CL
(Nuclide), SEM-EDS (JEOL 6460 LV-SEM) and pXRF (Bruker Tracer III-SD
handheld in situ) to gain insight into the respective ceramic styles of both
cultures. The chemical composition of ceramic bodies (SEM-EDS and pXRF (in
Mochica Bichrome Fineline Vessels situ)) was compared to the crystalline phases luminescence (CL).
Fig. 2. Coastal Cajamarca Vessels
Highland Cajamarca Vessels • Can the technological exchange be identified as a product of social exchange in pre-
3. Results Columbian societies ?
CL analysis of ceramic bodies Elementary analysis of ceramic bodies
➊ ➋ ➌ 0.32 Coastal Cajamarca
Highland Cajamarca
sherds
sherds 0.4
0.24 K2O
Highland Cajamarca
0.3
sherds
0.16 Mochica sherds
0.2
P2O5
Component 2

0.08 GaKa1
MnKa1 0.1
Component 2
FeKa1 CaO
ZnKa1 Y_Ka1 TiO2
0.00 SrKa1
K_Ka1 0.0 SiO2
Al2O3

AsKa1 RbKa1 -0.1

-0.08
-0.2 MgO Coastal Cajamarca
-0.16
Fe2O3 sherds
-0.3 Na2O
Mochica sherds
-0.24
➊ -0.4 ➋
-0.32 CaKa1
-0.5
-0.36 -0.24 -0.12 0.00 0.12 0.24 0.36 0.48 0.60 -0.48 -0.32 -0.16 0.00 0.16 0.32 0.48 0.64
Component 1 Component 1

Fig. 3. ➊ : Ceramic Cross Sections (CCS) / ➋ : images of CCS with Standardized Fig. 4. ➊ : PCA using pXRF intensities information ➋ : PCA using EDS compositional information
natural light / ➌ : images of CCS by Cathodoluminescence (Convex hulls are denoted. All data was previously transformed using centred log ratio transformation) [5, 6])

• Assessment n°1/ Even while Mochica and Cajamarca people were trading objects & breaking social-ethnical boundaries, potters of both societies did not exchange raw
materials for the manufacturing of ceramic bodies : they would keep their own cultural savoir-faire for the production of ceramic pastes.
Elementary analysis of decorations using pXRF
Highland
Fig. 6.
➊ ➋
Cajamarca
sherds
➊ : pXRF spectrum of
Mochica sherds
brown decoration on Fig. 7.
Mochica sherd Intensities ratios MnKα1/FeKα1 on the
Mochica sherd Mochica sherd
Brown slip paint was produced body ceramics (red dots and lines)
using iron ores
Intensities ratios MnKα1/FeKα1 on the
➋ : pXRF spectrum of red red, brown and black slip paints
& black decoration on (black dots and lines)
Mochica sherd
Few black and brown slip paints
Red and Black slip paints was
was produced using manganese ores
produced using iron and
manganese ores

• Assessment n°2/ The comparison of the elementary compositions of the red, brown and black slip paints on Mochica and Cajamarca ceramics could suggest cultural parallels
between these cultures. Some Highland Cajamarca and Mochica vessels were decorated using both iron ores and manganese ores. Hypothesis: The use of manganese ores to
produce slip paints was originally a feature of Highland Ceramic Traditions. Then, this feature was imported by the Mochica workshops.

4. Discussion 5. Bibliography
• The Mochica production patterns did not change abruptly when this society multiply [1] Castillo, L.-J., Uceda, S., 2008. The Mochicas. In: Silverman H., Isbell W.H. (ed.). Handbook of South American Archaeology,
New York, pp. 707-730.
exchanges with Andean Highland societies. Instead, a more subtle and gradual [2] Watanabe, S., 2009. La céramique caolin en la cultura Cajamarca (sierra norte del Perú): el caso de la fase Cajamarca Media.
incorporation of new features (shapes and decorations) in the production process can Bulletin de l’Institut Français d’Études Andines, 38 (2), pp. 205-236.
[3] Chaparro, A., 2011. Teo-iconology of sacrificial power among the Moche. AISTHESIS, 50, pp. 72-91.
be observed, as suggested by the ceramics found at San José de Moro. Late Mochica [4] Castillo, L.-J., 2003. Los Últimos Mochicas en Jequetepeque. In: Uceda, S., Mujica, E., (ed.). Moche: hacia el final del milenio.
potters succeeded in preserving their own technical traditions until the collapse of Actas del Segundo Coloquio sobre la Cultura Moche. Lima, Universidad Nacional de Trujillo y Pontificia Universidad Católica del
Perú, T. II, pp. 65-123.
their society. [5] Aitchison, J., 1986. The statistical analysis of compositional data- Monographs on Statistics and Applied Probability. Springer,
• Perspectives: A new geological survey of manganese ores must to be achieved at the London.
[6] Buxeda I Garrigos, J., 1999. Alteration and Contamination of Archaeological Ceramics: The Perturbation Problem. Journal of
Jequetepeque valley and the Cajamarca valley. Archeological Science, 26, pp. 295-313.
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