New Technologies for Archaeology: Multidisciplinary Investigations in Palpa and Nasca, Peru

510 Pages·2009·103.644 MB·English

by  Markus Reindel, Günther A. Wagner (auth.), Markus Reindel, Günther A. Wagner (eds.)

Chapter 1
Introduction – New Methods and Technologies
of Natural Sciences for Archaeological
Investigations in Nasca and Palpa, Peru
MarkusReindelandGu¨ntherA.Wagner
1.1 Natural Sciences in Archaeology
Applicationsofnaturalsciencesinarchaeologyhaveactuallyalongtradition.
Inparticularthechemicalcompositionofmetalartefactswassporadicallyused
formorethantwohundredyears,mainlyforthepurposeofmaterialclassifica-
tion.OneoftheearliestexamplesisthequantitativeanalysisofRomancoinsin
1799byMartinHeinrichKlaprothinBerlin,achemistwhoisbetterknownas
the discoverer of the element uranium. Based on the material composition of
dominant remains, the Danish archaeologist Christian Ju¨rgensen Thomsen
formallyintroducedinthe1820sthethree-age systemofprehistoricarchaeol-
ogyintothreeconsecutivetimeperiods:theStoneAge,theBronzeAge,andthe
IronAge.
Especiallyduringthesecondhalfofthetwentiethcentury,naturalscientific
approaches in archaeology experienced a nearly explosive increase. It became
obviousthat,whentryingtoreconstructthepastascomprehensivelyaspossi-
ble, the archaeologist needs to take into consideration all sources of relevant
information including those which are hidden to the naked eye, being the
foremost tool of an archaeologist’s perception, and which are only revealed
by scientific studies. Terms such as ‘science-based archaeology’ or simply
‘archaeometry’ are used for this new discipline. Originally coined in 1958 as
thetitleforajournal(M.Aitken,inOlin,1982,p.142)andsubsequentlyalso
usedforaninternationalsymposium,‘archaeometry’wasincreasinglyadapted
withinthepastfewdecadesforthisfieldofresearch.Itisacknowledgedinthe
meantime by most archaeologists as an indispensable and integral part of
archaeology.
M.Reindel(*)
GermanArchaeologicalInstitute(DAI),CommissionforArchaeologyofNon-European
Cultures(KAAK),Du¨renstraße35-37,53173Bonn,Germany
e-mail:[email protected]
M.Reindel,G.A.Wagner(eds.),NewTechnologiesforArchaeology, 1
NaturalScienceinArchaeology,DOI10.1007/978-3-540-87438-6_1,
(cid:2)Springer-VerlagBerlinHeidelberg2009
Natural Science in Archaeology
Serieseditors:B.Herrmann,G.A.Wagner
Markus Reindel Gu¨nther A. Wagner (Eds.)
l
New Technologies
for Archaeology
Multidisciplinary Investigations in Palpa
and Nasca, Peru
With223Figuresand30Tables
1 3
VolumeEditors
Dr.MarkusReindel Prof.Dr.Gu¨ntherA.Wagner
DeutschesArcha¨ologisches GeographischesInstitut
Universita¨tHeidelberg
Institut
ImNeuenheimerFeld348
Kommissionfu¨rArcha¨ologie
69120Heidelberg
Außereuropa¨ischerKulturen
Germany
(KAAK)
[email protected]
Du¨renstr.35-37
53173Bonn
Germany
[email protected]
SeriesEditors
Prof.Dr.BerndHerrmann Prof.Dr.Gu¨ntherA.Wagner
Universita¨tGo¨ttingen GeographischesInstitut
Institutfu¨rAnthropologie Univesita¨tHeidelberg
Bu¨rgerstraße40 ImNeuenheimerFeld348
37073Go¨ttingen 69120Heidelberg
Germany Germany
[email protected] [email protected]
ISBN:978-3-540-87437-9 e-ISBN:978-3-540-87438-6
DOI10.1007/978-3-540-87438-6
LibraryofCongressControlNumber:2008936494
NaturalScienceinArchaeologyISSN:1613-9712
#Springer-VerlagBerlinHeidelberg2009
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Preface
In2002themultidisciplinaryresearchproject‘‘Nasca:developmentandadaptation
of archaeometric techniques for the investigation of cultural history’’ (Nasca:
Entwicklung und Adaption archa¨ometrischer Techniken zur Erforschung der
Kulturgeschichte) started, funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education
andResearch(Bundesministeriumfu¨rBildungundForschung,BMBF)initspriority
program ‘‘New scientific methods and technologies for the humanities’’ (Neue
Naturwissenschaftliche Methoden und Technologien fu¨r die Geisteswissenschaften,
NTG).Thisnewprojectcontinuedandinacertainwayfulfilledalastinggoalof
the ministry to integrate different branches of scientific activities and to foster
the transfer of expertise gained in natural sciences to the humanities and vice
versa. Archaeometry, by definition the application of scientific methods in
archaeologicalinvestigation,hasbeenamajorfocusofthepriorityprogramsince
itsbeginningsin1989.
After funding numerous fruitful research projects that developed new
archaeometric techniques mostly in bilateral cooperation, an even greater
outcomewasexpectedfromamoremultifacetedapproachwiththeparticipation
ofvariousscientificdisciplinesaroundawell-defined,archaeologicalresearchtopic.
Furthermore,itwasintendedtoestablishaprojectoutsidethetraditionalresearch
areasincentralEuropeortheMediterranean.Itwasthegreatmeritoftheperson
formerlyinchargeoftheBMBFpriorityprogram,Dr.EdgarPusch,todevelop
thesefar-reachingperspectivesandweareextremelygratefulthatafterarigorous
screeningourprojectamongotherinterestingoneswasselectedforfunding.
Our project was in a favourable situation because it met precisely the
requirements defined by the BMBF, having developed a challenging research
design centered on the puzzling problem of the Nasca lines in the desert of
southern coastal Peru. The initial archaeological steps were financed by the
Swiss-LiechtensteinFoundationforArchaeologicalResearchAbroad(SLSA)
andwearenotonlygratefulforthissupportofthearchaeologicalactivities,but
evenmoreforthisuniqueopportunitytodevelopakeyprojectwhichinmany
waysbecameexemplaryandtrend-settingforfutureresearchactivities.Wealso
received very valuable financial support from the Japan Maria Reiche Fund,
whichenabledustobuildalittlemuseuminthecenterofPalpawherewecan
nowpresenttheresultsofourscientificworktothepublic.
v
vi Preface
Wewerealwayssupportedandassistedintheorganizationandmanagement
oftheprojectbytheproject-executinginstitutionattheResearchCenterJu¨lich,
especially its representatives, Dr. Hans-Joachim Krebs and Dr. Sabine
Gerhard. It was their idea to organize not only meetings and workshops in
Germany, but also a field conference directly in the research area, in Palpa,
where the base camp of our field campaigns was located. Five days of very
intensive talks and discussions and the following excursion with about 70
participants of the field conference, among them the project members,
Peruvian partners and colleagues, and international specialists from many
different countries, reflected very well the special spirit of this project group:
theconcentrationofknowledgeinaninterdisciplinaryprojectindirectcontact
withtheareasofresearchyieldedanexceedinglyhighoutputofscientificresults
inanexcellentworkingatmosphere.
Atthispointweasthecoordinatorsandatthesametimetheeditorsofthis
volume,whichconstitutesthefinalreportofourresearchproject,wouldliketo
thankallourGerman,Swiss,Peruvian,andotherinternationalcolleaguesfor
theirdedicatedworkinthisveryproductivecooperativeefforttodevelopnew
methodsandtechnologiesforarchaeologicalinvestigationandtoadvancethe
knowledgeoftheancientSouthAmericancultures.
In Peru we always received optimal support from the authorities and the
cooperatinginstitutions.WeareindebtedtotheNationalInstituteforCultural
Heritage(InstitutoNacionaldeCultura,INC)foralwayshandlingthepermits
for our archaeological investigations in a nonbureaucratic and effective
manner, and we especially thank the former director of the INC, Dr. Luis
Guillermo Lumbreras, for his steady support of and interest in our project.
WealsothankourdirectpartnersattheregionaldepartmentoftheINC,Rube´n
Garcı´aandSusanaArce,fortheirveryfriendlyandeffectivecooperation.
Therealizationofthehighgoalsofourproject,sometimesresultinginavery
tightworkingschedule,wouldnothavebeenpossiblewithoutthesupportofthe
German embassy, which not only aided at the administrative level, but also
enabled the logistics; exchanging research equipment and samples for the
analyses in laboratories in Germany were crucial for the success of this
project. We are especially grateful to the ambassador Dr. Roland Kliesow
and the attache´ for cultural affairs, Jens Urban, for their support and sincere
interestaswellastheirvisitstoPalpaandparticipationinpublicactivitiesofthe
projectinLimaandPalpa.
OurspecialthanksgotoourPeruviancolleaguesandfriendsinNascaand
Palpa,fortheirhospitalityandfortheirpatiencewhileintroducingustotheir
fascinating world and showing us the enigmas of their pre-Hispanic history.
Without their knowledge and careful observations, but also the ability to
assimilate quickly new skills and at the same time to adapt to the sometimes
seemingly strange behavior of the ‘‘gringos’’ who populated the Palpa valleys
forashorttimeevery year,theycontributed agreatdealtothesuccess ofthe
project. Our host for several years at the Fundo Jauranga, merits special
mention: Don Oscar Tijero, who not only followed our research activities
Preface vii
with special interest, but also transmitted to us his fascination for the local
historyandmotivatedsomeofthemostsuccessfularchaeologicalactivitiesof
theproject.
Insummary,afterfiveyearsofintenseresearchactivitieswithamultitudeof
scientific results, new insights into Andean history, the development of new
technologies for archaeology being useful also in other regions of the world,
countless publications in different disciplines, public presentations and
documentaries on radio and television,thepeopleofPalpawillbe astonished
when they realize that the slogan they coined many years ago for their little
forgottendeserttown,turnsouttobequiteaccurate:Palpaesma´sdeloquete
imaginas(Palpaismorethanyoucanimagine).
BonnandHeidelberg MarkusReindel
August2008 Gu¨ntherWagner
Contents
1 Introduction–NewMethodsandTechnologiesofNaturalSciences
forArchaeologicalInvestigationsinNascaandPalpa,Peru ....... 1
MarkusReindelandGu¨ntherA.Wagner
PartI Geoarchaeology
2 ManandEnvironmentintheEasternAtacamaDesert(SouthernPeru):
HoloceneClimateChangesandTheirImpactonPre-Columbian
Cultures ............................................... 17
BernhardEitelandBertilMa¨chtle
3 BuiltonSand:ClimaticOscillationandWaterHarvestingDuring
theLateIntermediatePeriod ............................... 39
BertilMa¨chtle,BernhardEitel,GerdSchukraftandKatharinaRoss
PartII Geophysics
4 BeneaththeDesertSoil–ArchaeologicalProspecting
withaCaesiumMagnetometer.............................. 49
Jo¨rgW.E.FassbinderandTomaszH.Gorka
5 QuantumDetectionMeetsArchaeology–MagneticProspection
withSQUIDs,HighlySensitiveandFast...................... 71
SvenLinzen,VolkmarSchultze,AndreasChwala,TimSchu¨ler,
MarcoSchulz,RonnyStolzandHans-GeorgMeyer
6 ViewingtheSubsurfacein3D:SedimentTomographyfor
(Geo-)ArchaeologicalProspectioninPalpa,SouthernPeru........ 87
StefanHecht
ix
x Contents
7 TheFieldofSherds:ReconstructingGeomagneticFieldVariations
fromPeruvianPotsherds .................................. 103
FlorianStark,RomanLeonhardt,Jo¨rgW.E.Fassbinder
andMarkusReindel
PartIII Bioarchaeology
8 FromHunterstoRegionalLords:FuneraryPracticesinPalpa,Peru.. 119
JohnyIslaCuadrado
9 TalkingBones:BioarchaeologicalAnalysisofIndividualsfromPalpa.. 141
ElsaTomastoCagigao
10 WhoWeretheNasca?PopulationDynamicsinPre-Columbian
SouthernPeruRevealedbyAncientDNAAnalyses.............. 159
LarsFehren-Schmitz,SusanneHummelandBerndHerrmann
11 HumansandCamelidsinRiverOasesoftheIca–Palpa–NazcaRegion
inPre-HispanicTimes–InsightsfromH-C-N-O-S-SrIsotope
Signatures ............................................. 173
PeterHorn,StefanHo¨lzl,SusanneRummel,Go¨ranA˚ berg,
SolveigSchiegl,DanielaBiermann,UlrichStruck
andAndreasRossmann
12 TheNascaandTheirDearCreatures–MolecularGeneticAnalysis
ofPre-ColumbianCamelidBonesandTextiles ................. 193
RebeccaRenneberg,SusanneHummelandBerndHerrmann
PartIV Archaeochronometry
13 OfLayersandSherds:AContext-BasedRelativeChronology
oftheNascaStylePotteryfromPalpa........................ 207
NielsHecht
14 TheClockintheCornCob:OntheDevelopmentofaChronology
oftheParacasandNascaPeriodBasedonRadiocarbonDating .... 231
IngmarUnkelandBerndKromer
15 ColdLightfromtheSedimentsofaHotDesert:HowLuminescence
DatingShedsLightontheLandscapeDevelopmentoftheNortheastern
Atacama............................................... 245
AnnetteKadereit,SteffenGreilich,ClemensWodaand
Gu¨ntherA.Wagner
Contents xi
16 LightThrownonHistory–TheDatingofStoneSurfacesatthe
GeoglyphsofPalpaUsingOpticallyStimulatedLuminescence ..... 271
SteffenGreilichandGu¨ntherA.Wagner
PartV Geomatics
17 VirtualArchaeology–NewMethodsofImage-Based3DModeling .. 287
ArminGruen
18 VirtualFlightOvertheNascaLines–AutomatedGeneration
ofaPhotorealisticallyTextured3DModelofthePampadeNasca.. 307
MartinSauerbier
19 ContextMatters:GIS-BasedSpatialAnalysisoftheNasca
GeoglyphsofPalpa ...................................... 321
KarstenLambersandMartinSauerbier
20 AModelHelicopterOverPinchangoAlto–ComparisonofTerrestrial
LaserScanningandAerialPhotogrammetry ................... 339
HenriEisenbeiss
21 PerspectivesandContrasts:DocumentationandInterpretation
ofthePetroglyphsofChichictara,UsingTerrestrialLaserScanning
andImage-Based3DModeling ............................. 359
PeterFux,MartinSauerbier,ThomasKersten,MarenLindstaedt
andHenriEisenbeiss
22 PotteryPlottedbyLaser–3DAcquisitionforDocumentation
andAnalysisofSymmetryofAncientCeramics................. 379
HubertMara
PartVI Archaeometallurgy
23 GoldinSouthernPeru?PerspectivesofResearchintoMining
Archaeology............................................ 393
ThomasSto¨llner
24 FingerprintsinGold...................................... 409
SandraSchlosser,RobertKovacs,ErnstPernicka,DetlefGu¨nther
andMichaelTellenbach