Ceramic production of the Tafi Tradition. Technological studies applied to la Cienega archaeological pottery. (Tucumán, northwestern Argentina).

Abstract

This paper is a contribution to the pottery production knowledge of the Tafi Tradition from northwestern Argentina. Results obtained from a group of analytical techniques applied to potteries belonging from La Ciénega valley formative sites are presented: fabrics pétrographie characterizations in thin sections and compositional analyses by neutron activation (NAA), electronic microscopy (SEM and ED AX) and infrarred spectroscopy (IR). By means of these studies it is argued that La Ciénaga and Tafi valley potters shared a same manufacturing pattern and similar raw materials were used in both places. Ceramics from La Ciénaga reveal uniform manufacturing techniques and a limited selection of raw materials. It is a non specialized production mainly focused on domestic vessels maintenance