Ways of doing pottery during the formative in the southern Puna (Antofagasta de la Sierra, Catamarca, Argentina)

Abstract

This paper contains the results of the analysis carried out on the ceramic material of the last occupation at Cueva Salamanca 1 (Antofagasta de la Sierra, Argentine Southern Puna). This cave is strategically located in the middle course of the Las Pitas river, and it was occupied on several occasions since the midHolocene (ca. 9000 cal BP). The last registered occupation was dated around 1650 cal BP, during the Formative period. The object of this paper is the ceramic material from this occupation, allowing us to inquire into the technological choices and ways of working of the potters that made this pottery. Additionally, it inquires about the activities carried out in the ceramic record. Finally, on the basis of the evidence that arose mainly from the petrographic analysis of the paste, it inquires about the web of relationships that were formed over these objects, this place and the people who were there. This site was used as a place of transitional occupation, for this reason the possible relationships with other contemporary occupations are explored through the ceramic evidence.