Guangala Unearthed Use-wear Analysis & Experimental Archaeology in a Study of Ecuadorian Artifacts Stephanie Bohaczuk, Doris Chen, Raj Dave, Christopher Geissler, Shriya Kaneriya, Zachary Maher, Marie Smithgall, Meghan Sosnowski, Peiyi Su, Joanna Venator, Lucas Zavala Advisor: Maria Masucci 1. Figurina Antropomorfa Sedente [Internet]. 2007 June 15. Ecuador - Guayaquil. MAAC; [Cited 2008 30 July]. Available from: http://picasaweb.google.com/alfredo. campos/EcuadorGuayaquilMAAC/photo#50 76828756071446578 1
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Guangala Unearthed Use-wear Analysis & Experimental Archaeology in a Study of Ecuadorian Artifacts Stephanie Bohaczuk, Doris Chen, Raj Dave, Christopher.
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Stephanie Bohaczuk, Doris Chen, Raj Dave, Christopher Geissler, Shriya Kaneriya,
Zachary Maher, Marie Smithgall, Meghan Sosnowski, Peiyi Su, Joanna Venator, Lucas Zavala
Advisor: Maria MasucciAssistant: Alison Koser
1. Figurina Antropomorfa Sedente [Internet]. 2007 June 15. Ecuador - Guayaquil. MAAC; [Cited 2008 30 July]. Available from: http://picasaweb.google.com/alfredo.campos/EcuadorGuayaquilMAAC/photo#5076828756071446578
1
Past vs. Present• Past
– Morphological– Lack of scientific
methodology– Roots in humanities
• New technology
• Present 1
– Experimental– Archaeometry 1. Sutton MQ and Yohe Robert. 2007.
Archaeology: The Science of the Human Past, 3/E. Bakersfield (CA): Prentice Hall. Pg. 65-66.
Our Objectives
• Apply scientific method to Guangala artifacts• Three main artifact groups
– Shells– Ceramics– Stones
• Three main techniques – Microscopic analysis– Experimental replication– Use-wear studies
GUANGALA PHASE (500 B.C.-A.D.800) 1
A
1. Marcos JG. 1986. A Brief Prehistory of Ecuador. Quito (Ecuador): Corporación Editora Nacional
2. Ecuador Map [Internet]. [Updated 2006 December 11]. Washington D.C., US Central Intelligence Agency. [cited 2008 July 30]. Available from: http://www.geographicguide.net/america/ecuador.htm
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BACKGROUND- CULTURE
•Agriculture1
•Trade
2
1. Marcos JG. 1986. A Brief Prehistory of Ecuador. Quito (Ecuador): Corporación Editora Nacional
2. Anderson G. 2007. Marine Science. [Internet]. Santa Barbara, CA: [cited 2008 Jul 28]. Available from http://www.marinebio.net/marinescience/06future/
The Experiments.
Can the markings on the artifacts tell us something
about their past?
SHELL ARTIFACTS OBSERVED
Artifact S1: Found at shell-working site
Artifact S2: Found with burnt trash heap
So are all the striations a result of object use-wear or of natural processes?
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Experimental Shell Before Polishing
Original Artifact S1 Experimental Shell After Polishing
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Experimental Shell After Use on Manioc
Experimental Shell After Use on Oak
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SHELL: DISCUSSION
• Ineffective tool• Shell burnt • Natural growth
rings vs. man-made striations1
• Raw material valuable
• Ceremonial and/or monetary by experimentation2, 3
•Anderson G. 2007. Marine Science. [Internet]. Santa Barbara, CA: [cited 2008 Jul 28]. Available from http://www.marinebio.net/marinescience/06future/•Morris PA. 1966. A Field Guide to Pacific Coast Shells. Boston (MA): Houghton Mifflin Company. p. 258.•Marcos JG. 1986. A Brief Prehistory of Ecuador. Quito (Ecuador): Corporación Editora Nacional
1. López Varela SL, van Gijn A, Jacobs L. 2002. De-mystifying Pottery Production in the Maya Lowlands: Detection of Traces of Use-Wear on Pottery Sherds through Microscopic Analysis and Experimental Replication. Journal of Archaeological Science [Internet]. [cited 2008 Jul 28]; 29(10): 1133-1147. Available from: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B6WH8-46FS8RH-4/1/b5d45c7b4e9f23e5b83d6f3a4ca41b1fc
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STONE “AXES”
• Sharpened against sandstone
• Experimented–Scraping–Slicing–Chopping
• Analyze under stereoscope
BEFORE AFTER
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EXPERIMENTAL ACTUAL
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BEFORE
AFTER
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EXPERIMENTAL ACTUAL
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•Application of science to archaeology
• MAIN IDEA: MAIN IDEA: move past morphology into experimentation