Guangala UnearthedUse-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 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

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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

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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

OriginOriginalalRepli

Repli

caca

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Before After

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

•Complex SocietyComplex Society– TradingTrading– ResourcefulResourceful– AgriculturalAgricultural

•PoliticsPolitics–Foresting policy–Ethnic pride •Meggers BJ. 1966. Ancient Peoples and Places: Ecuador. New

York (NY): Frederick A. Praeger. p. 14-119.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSSchering-Plough Foundation

Novartis

The Dorr Foundation

The Jennifer A. Chalsty Foundation

The Edward W. and Stella C. Van Houten Memorial Fund

The Jewish Communal Fund

Laura and John Overdeck

Dr. Masucci

Ms. Alison Koser

Dr. Miyamoto

Dr. Quinn

Ms. Myrna Papier

QUESTIONS?