Exploring the culinary uses of Santa María and Belén painted vessels from the Late Intermediate Period in Catamarca, Argentina

Abstract

Santa María and Belén vessels from the Late Intermediate Period (10th–15th centuries AD) in Northwest Argentina are strongly associated to funerary uses as “urns”. However, multiple recent findings of these vessels in domestic non-funerary contexts point towards diverse utilities. In this paper we carried out an exploratory analysis and selected two case studies of Santa María vessels and one of a Belén vessel, all recovered in household floors from three sites in Catamarca, Argentina. In order to enquire into the potential culinary uses of vessels, lipid residues were extracted from the ceramic matrixes and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) analyses were carried out to explore their origins. In all three vessels lipid residues were recovered and characterized. Two samples showed evidence of plant and animal lipid mixtures, while the third sample only had animal lipids. The culinary utility of these vessels was confirmed, and uses may have included storage or service of liquids or stews. These preliminary results provide insight into an alternative interpretation of Santa María and Belén vessel use.