Forming Techniques of Ychsma Cephalomorphic Bottles and Cara-Golletes from Pachacamac, Peru

Abstract

Ychsma was a hierarchical society centered on the Lurín and Rímac valleys of Peru’s central coast during the Late Intermediate Period (1000–1470 CE). During the Late Horizon (1470–1532 CE), it was the subject of intense investment and transformation by the Inka, most notably in the administrative and pilgrimage center of Pachacamac. Using X-radiography to evaluate forming methods and techniques, we compare two similar Ychsma forms of pottery: cephalomorphic bottles, dating to earlier Ychsma periods, and cara-golletes, dating to later Inka periods. We find that these forms, though similar in shape and appearance, were formed using very different methods.

Ychsma fue una sociedad jerárquica centrada en los valles de Lurín y Rímac en la costa central del Perú durante el Período Intermedio Tardío (1000–1470 d.C.). Durante el Horizonte Tardío (1470–1532 d.C.), fue objeto de intensas inversiones y transformaciones por parte de los Inka, sobre todo en el centro administrativo y de peregrinación de Pachacamac. Utilizando radiografías para evaluar métodos y técnicas de formación, comparamos dos formas similares de cerámica Ychsma: botellas cefalomórficas, que datan del periodo más temprano Ychsma, y cara-golletes, que pertenecen al periodo más tardío Inka. Encontramos que estas formas, aunque similares en forma y apariencia, se formaban usando métodos muy diferentes.

Keywords:

• Ychsma
• Pachacamac
• pottery
• cara-gollete
• cephalomorphic bottle
• forming techniques

Acknowledgements

At the Penn Museum, we thank Clark Erickson, William Wierzbowski, and the Scientific Testing Committee. Thank you to Frances Hayashida, Sarah Thomson, Jillian M. Jordan, Robyn Cutright, and two anonymous reviewers for providing helpful feedback on this manuscript.

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

Funding for X-radiography was provided by the Wenner-Gren Foundation [grant number 9810] and a Moore Research Grant from the University of New Mexico’s Department of Anthropology. Work at MURR was supported by NSF grant number 2208558. Davenport was also supported by a Ph.D. Fellowship from the University of New Mexico’s Latin American and Iberian Institute, a Dissertation Fellowship from the University of New Mexico’s Department of Anthropology, and a Summer Fellowship from the Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection.

Notes on contributors

James A. Davenport

James A. Davenport is a Senior Scientist in the Archaeometry Laboratory at the University of Missouri Research Reactor, Columbia, MO, USA. He earned his PhD from the University of New Mexico. He specializes in compositional analysis of ceramics and the Inka empire.

Marie-Claude Boileau

Marie-Claude Boileau is the Director of the Center for the Analysis of Archaeological Materials at the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Anthropology and Archaeology, Philadelphia, PA, USA. She earned her PhD from the Université Laval. She specializes in archaeological science as applied to archaeological ceramics.