LEARNT GESTURES: TECHNOLOGICAL POTTERY TRADITIONS IN QUEBRADA DE PAJCHELA DURING LATE PERIOD-INKA/EARLY COLONIAL PERIOD

Abstract

In two sites of the Upper San Juan Mayo river Basin (Quebrada de Pajchela, Puna de Jujuy) pottery sherds with decorations related to two regional technological traditions, Casabindo and Yavi-Chicha, were recovered. The first style is more abundant in the Late Period context, while the second one prevails in the Inka/Early Colonial period. In this work we present a macroscopic analysis of the ceramics aimed at obtaining information on their productive chaîne opératoire, in order to gain a better understanding of its relations to the regional traditions and to make a contribution to the interpretation of the occupational sequence of the area. It is argued that there are multiple attributes that suggest that the technological knowledge of both groups was locally reproduced in Quebrada de
Pajchela, though there are also aspects that allow to question the rigid division between the traditions.