INSIGHT INTO ANDEAN METALLURGY FROM LAKE SEDIMENT CORES

The Andes were the cradle of New World metallurgy and witnessed the emergence of numerous pre-Columbian empires. But in 1532 AD, the Spanish conquistadors initiated widespread exploitation and looting of the abundant cultural and mineral resources amassed by the Inca and their predecessors. Centuries later we are left with a fragmented picture of Andean metallurgical activities. Here we present a summary of our recent efforts aimed at reconstructing the history of Andean metallurgy using lake sediment cores. In particular, we focus on records of past atmospheric mercury (Hg) pollution associated with cinnabar (HgS) mining, mercury amalgamation, and the smelting of non-ferrous ores. These results not offer insight into the spatial and temporal evolution of Andean metallurgy, but place recent human-environment interactions in a long-term context.