THE ROLE OF MATERIAL CHOICE IN REGIONAL SOCIO-POLITICAL NEGOTIATIONS: GEOCHEMICAL VARIATION BETWEEN RECUAY MONUMENTAL STONE SCULPTURES IN THE ANDEAN HIGHLANDS

Monumental stone was integral in ideological and political expression in the prehistoric Andes through its origin, appearance, and contextual usage. As a part of a study focusing on pre-Inka relationships between material choice, stone use, and regional socio-political negotiations, this paper presents preliminary results characterizing the geochemical variability of Recuay monumental stone. Despite the political and ideological importance of stone sculptures in Recuay communities (ca. 100-700CE), the regional variability and symbolic dimensions of material choice remain understudied. Visual identification of stone types reveals patterned material and functional variations between ancestral and chiefly sculptures prominent in Recuay iconography (Moretti and Litschi 2016). Stone selection and quarrying were set in a backdrop of increased inter-community conflict, yet visual similarities in materials suggest some quarries were shared. Do visually similar stones originate from the same geologic source? Is source selection different depending on the intended use of the stone?

To test hypotheses related to these questions, portable X-Ray Fluorescence (pXRF) spectroscopy is being conducted on Recuay sculptures (n=514) at Peru’s Ancash Archaeological Museum. Statues undergo low-impact cleaning to remove surface contamination and 3 readings are averaged to account for material heterogeneity. Pending analysis will utilize principal component analysis to identify elements that best distinguish geochemical differences; hierarchical cluster analysis and k-means analysis will use trace elements to identify distinct groups of specimens.

These results will establish a foundation for my dissertation research on regional Recuay patterns of stone procurement and use by a) empirically determining if visually similar stones share a geologic source – facilitating a planned geologic survey and provenance study, and b) characterizing differences in material choice in relation to intended use – to be further studied for ideological implications. Broadly, this study of will add critical knowledge about the development of pan-Andean beliefs regarding stone, and will contribute to theoretical discourses regarding the role of resource exploitation in regional and global socio-political interactions.