Analysis of the changes in the morphology of Pre- and Post-Hispanic queros housed in Museum collections of Argentina

Abstract

Wooden vessels or queros (also keru) are ceremonial artifacts imbued with political and utilitarian value, since they were part of the decision-making spaces of the elites, and reflected concepts and logics of representation characteristic of the indigenous world, both for native societies of the 15th century and during the later Colonial Andean period. Celebrations were accompanied by toasts and meals, at which political decisions were made regarding the fate of the population and the direction of the government. Most studies of queros have centered on decorative aspects, identifying noticeable differences in surface treatment and iconography between both periods. This work is focused on the statistical analysis of the morphology of these vessels, from the comparison of a sample of queros of Inca and Colonial periods, and the analysis of the variability observed within each of them. The working sample is composed of 45 pieces, with different origins and chronologies, belonging to collections from two Argentine museums: the Ethnographic Museum (University of Buenos Aires) and the Museum of La Plata (National University of La Plata). The results suggest important morphological differences within the colonial vessel assemblage, even greater than those observed from the comparison between Inca and Colonial queros. The general trend indicates a narrowing of the vessel waist, with its concomitant increase in the diameters of the mouth and base over time.