The interpretative potential of the technological analysis: an Amazonian example

Abstract

The present article attempts to emphasize the importance of the utilization of physical-chemical correlates in the comprehension of the meanings of the technological choices made along the ceramic production process. The bibliography concerning the distinct performance characteristics obtained from the choosen combination of tempers and clays within the ceramic production served as a comparative parameter to the results obtained from the combined usage of petrographic and technological analysis in a ceramic collection provenient from artifical mounds in Hathara site, central Amazon. The aplication of this approach intends to offer new data for mapping the distinct choice priorities in each chaine operatoire, in order to better comprehend technological especifities of each artefactual group.