MACRO AND MESOSCOPIC ANALYSIS OF SEDIMENTARY ROCKS AT SAN IGNACIO, MISIONES. A LOOK FROM GEOARCHAEOLOGY

Abstract

The results of macroscopic and mesoscopic analyzes performed on sedimentary rock samples extracted from archaeological sites with temporally distant chronologies and constructive logics, but which share the use of this kind of rocks as raw material per excellence for the construction of structures, are presented. The three sampled sites are located in the town of San Ignacio (Province of Misiones): two of them correspond to Jesuit reductions from the 18th century and the third to a possible settlement linked to the Second World War, dated between 1945-1950. The results of the macro and mesoscopic analysis of rock samples extracted from different spaces, allow us to suppose that the exploitation of the quarries was approached with different knowledge and purposes, a fact that would be reflected in the quality of the lithic constructions that remain today.