Abstract

SENTINELLI, Natalia  and  RASJIDO, Matias. Vulcanita 8 from las juntas. An alternative raw material for shoves/hoes and other lithic artifacts in Antofagasta de la Sierra (Catamarca). Rev. Mus. Antropol. [online]. 2023, vol.16, n.2, pp.87-96.  Epub Aug 31, 2023. ISSN 1852-060X.  http://dx.doi.org/10.31048/1852.4826.v16.n2.40445.

A vulcanite source located in Las Juntas archaeological site (Antofagasta de la Sierra, southern Puna, Catamarca) is presented and described. This source is composed of an outcrop in the middle sector of an escarpment and a cone-shaped deposit of debris that falls from the vein towards the base of the slope. To the naked eye, the volcanic rock available at this source presents macroscopic and fracture characteristics which are very similar to other volcanic rocks known in the region -specifically, Vc8 and Vc. 8 CCT), so we call it Vulcanita 8 Las Juntas (Vc8 LJ). These rocks share a natural fracture in the form of large slabs, wich was used to make shovels/hoes, as is evidenced by debris from the preparation of blanks and primary formatization of these instruments in their sources of supply. However, the variety from Las Juntas presents a series of characteristics that allow it to be macroscopically differentiated from those. At Las Escondidas site, stone tools, stone tools fragments, and debris were found, which were macroscopically assigned to Vc8 LJ. The petrographic analysis of some pieces from the site and a sample from the Las Juntas source support this affiliation. However, petrographic results indicated that a debris previously described as undifferentiated volcanic rock corresponds to Vc8 LJ, suggesting that macroscopic identification of this rock may be somewhat difficult. The discovery of this source leads to reconsider some of the ascriptions of raw materials on several of the lithic artifact assemblages of Miriguaca and the region.

Keywords : Lithic technology; Meridional Puna; Raw material sources; Petrographic analysis; Technological choices.

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