Exploring operational chains and technological styles in the production of domestic polished wares from San Pedro de Atacama, Chile

Abstract

Research on San Pedro's local wares (Late Formative and Middle periods) has tended to favor stylistic analysis of pottery from mortuary contexts to construct chronological sequences. Little is known about systems of production of domestic wares, or about their social implications. This study uses complementary macroscopic, petrographic, and elemental data to contribute to the understanding of the production and technological patterns of ceramics in the domestic context of Coyo Aldea (San Pedro de Atacama, Chile) through the study of polished vessels. The results show highly homogeneous pastes, contrasting with the variability of surface colors of three wares. In addition, the results indicate that all types of polished wares were locally manufactured following a shared ceramic technological style, reflected in paste homogeneity. This study contributes to a better understanding of the means of production as we provide new data on raw material uses and technological styles as part of the operational sequence of production.