Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Ancient potters, paintings and craft specialization in northwestern argentine region: new data through Raman characterization of pre- and postfiring ceramic paintings on Aguada Portezuelo Ceramics from Middle Period (Catamarca, Argentina)

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Raman micro-spectroscopy (RMS) is nowadays a very well established analytical technique for the pigment identification in archaeological pottery which allows the study of art and museum objects through a totally non-destructive approach. Data on the chemical nature of the different pigments used by the ancient potters to decorate ceramic vessels can be obtained directly throughout the application of this analytical technique. In this paper, we explore the technological choices done by potters in the past to select, process and apply different natural pigments to decorate the Aguada Portezuelo vessels. The technological process itself is approached through the analytical results obtained from the study of pre- and postfiring paintings in Aguada Portezuelo archaeological ceramics, Middle Period (ca. AD 600–AD 900), Northwestern Argentine region. With the aim to explore the origin of the pigments (inorganic versus organic) used in the past by the potters, several paintings of red, black and brown colours were analyzed by Raman microspectroscopy. Additionally, the chemical nature of the white coloured prefiring slip characteristic of most of this ceramic type was studied, and we explored the molecular structure of the black plumbed coloured internal surfaces of these ceramic bowls.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Acevedo V, López MA, Freire E, Halac EB, Polla G, Reinoso M (2012) Estudio de pigmentos en alfarería estilo negro sobre rojo de Quebrada de Humahuaca, Jujuy, Argentina. Boletín del Museo de Arte Precolombino 17(2):39–51

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Adams KR, Stewart JD, Baldwin SJ (2002) Pottery paint and other uses of rocky mountain Beeweed (Cleome serrulata Pursch) in the American southwest: ethnographic data, archaeological record, and elemental composition. The Kiva 67:339–362

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baldini MI, Cremonte MB, Botto IL, Díaz MA. (2005) De Felinos, Pastas y Pigmentos. La Cerámica de Choya 68 desde una Perspectiva Arqueométrica. In: Martín S E, Gonaldi M E (eds) La Cultura de La Aguada y sus Expresiones Regionales, EUDELAR, SECyT, Universidad Nacional de La Rioja, pp 87–105

  • Barrionuevo O (1971) Investigaciones arqueológicas en Nanahuasi, Ancasti. Cuadernos de Antropología Catamarqueña 4: 1–15

  • Bell IM, Clark RJH, Gibbs PJ (1997) Raman spectroscopic library of natural and synthetic pigments (pre ~1850 AD). Spectrochim Acta A 53:2159–2179

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bersani D, Lottici PP (2016) Raman spectroscopy of minerals and mineral pigments in archaeomtry. J Raman Spectrosc 47:499–530

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bertolino S, Galvan Josa V, Carreras AC, Laguens A, De La Fuente G, Riveros JA (2009) X-ray techniques applied to surface paintings of ceramic pottery pieces from Aguada culture (Catamarca, Argentina). X-Ray Spectrom 38:95–102

  • Bouchard M, Smith D C (2003) Catalogue of 45 reference Raman spectra of minerals concerning research in art history or archaeology, especially on corroded metals and colored glass, Spectrochimica Acta, part a: molecular and Biomolecura Spectroscopy 59A: 2247–2266

  • Bugliani MF, Di Lello C, Freire E, Polla G, Petragalli A, Reinoso M, Halac EB (2012) Empleo de espectroscopía Raman, difracción de rayos X y microscopía electrónica para el análisis de pigmentos en cerámicas Vaquerías. Boletín del Museo de Arte Precolombino 17(2):65–74

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Burgio L, Clark RJH (2001) Library of FT-Raman spectra of pigments, minerals, pigment media and varnishes, and supplement to existing library of Raman spectra of pigments with visible excitation. Spectrochim Acta A 57:1491–1521

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cecil LG, Neff H (2006) Postclassic Maya slips and paints and their relationship to socio-political groups in El Peten, Guatemala. J Archaeol Sci 33:1482–1491

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Centeno SA, Williams V, Little NC, Speakman RJ (2012) Characterization of surface decorations in prehispanic archaeological ceramics by Raman spectroscopy, FTIR, XRD and XRF. Vib Spectrosc 58:119–124

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chaplin TD, Clark RJH (2006) Advanced microscopic techniques for the characterization of pigments. Infocus Magazine 41(3):86–98

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ciliberto E, Spoto G (editors) (2000) Modern analytical methods in art and archaeology. Wiley, New York

  • Clark RJH (1999) An arts/science interface: medieval manuscripts, pigments, and spectroscopy. Proceedings of the Royal Institution of Great Britain 69:151–167

    Google Scholar 

  • Clark RJH, Curry ML (1998) The identification by Raman microscopy and X-ray diffraction of iron-oxide pigments and of the red pigments found in Italian pottery fragments. J Mol Struct 440:105–111

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clark RJH, Gibbs PJ (1997) Non-destructive in situ study of ancient Egyptian faience by Raman microscopy. J Raman Microsc 28:99–103

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clark RJH, Curry ML, Laganara C (1997a) Raman microscopy: the identificatgion of lapis lazuli on medieval pottery fragments from the south of Italy. Spectrochim Acta A 53:597–603

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clark RJH, Curry L, Henshaw GS, Laganara C (1997b) Characterization of brown-clack and blue pigments in glazed pottery fragments from Castel Florentino (Foggia, Italy) by Raman microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. J Raman Spectrosc 28:105–109

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Colton HS (1953) Potsherds: An Introduction to the Study of Prehistoric Southwestern Ceramics and their Use in Historic Reconstruction. Museum of Northern Arizona, Bulletin 25. The Northern Arizona Society of Science and Art, Flagstaff, Arizona

  • Colton HS, Hargrave LL (1937) Handbook of Northern Arizona Pottery Wares. Museum of Northern Arizona, Bulletin 11. The Northern Arizona Society of Science and Art, Flagstaff, Arizona

  • Cornell RM, Schwertmann U (1996) The iron oxide: structure, properties, reactions, occurrences and uses. VCH, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Coupry C (2000) Application of Raman microespectrometry to art objects. Analusis 28:39–45

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cremonte MB, Baldini M, Botto IL (2003) Pastas y colores. Un camino al conocimiento del estilo Portezuelo de Aguada, Intersecciones en Antropología 4:3–16

    Google Scholar 

  • David A, Edwards HGM, Farwell DW, De Faria DLA (2001) Raman spectroscopic analysis of ancient Egyptian pigments. Archaeometry 43:461–473

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • De La Fuente GA (2005) Technical study of pigments and paintings in archaeological ceramics from northwestern argentine region: an archaeometrical approach and implications for their conservation through SEM-EDS, in: Vandiver P B, mass J L, Murray a (eds), materials issues in art and archaeology VII, mater. Res. Soc. Symp. Proc. 852, Warrendale, PA, 2005, pp. 255–262

  • De La Fuente GA, Páez MC (2007) Ceramic Conservation in Archaeological Museums: the current situation in Northwestern Argentine (Province of Catamarca), In: Pilosi L (ed) Glass and Ceramics Conservation, Interim Meeting of the ICOM-CC G&C Working Group, Nova Gorica, Slovenia, pp. 180–188

  • De La Fuente GA, Pérez Martínez JM (2008) Estudiando pinturas en cerámicas arqueológicas “Aguada Portezuelo” (ca. 600-900 AD) del Noroeste Argentino: nuevos aportes a través de una aproximación arqueométrica por microespectroscopía de Raman (MSR). Intersecciones en Antropología 9:173–186

    Google Scholar 

  • De La Fuente GA, Kristcautzky N, Toselli G, Riveros A (2005a) Petrología cerámica comparativa y análisis composicional de las pinturas por MEB-EDS de estilo Aguada Portezuelo (ca. 600-900 DC) en el valle de Catamarca (Noroeste Argentino). Estudios Atacameños (30):61–78

  • De La Fuente GA, Kristcautzky N, Toselli G (2005b) Petrología cerámica comparativa del tipo Aguada Portezuelo: aportes preliminares para su estudio en el valle de Catamarca, In: Martín S E, Gonaldi M E (eds) La Cultura de La Aguada y sus Expresiones Regionales, EUDELAR, SECyT, Universidad Nacional de La Rioja, pp. 107–128

  • van der Weerd J, Smith GD, Firth S, Clark RJH (2004) Identification of black pigments on prehistoric southwest American potsherds by infrared and Raman microscopy. J Archaeol Sci 31:1429–1437

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dufilho J, Coupry C (1992) Chemistry and art. Methods of analysis in restoration, Analusis 20: 14–20

  • Edwards HGM (2001) Raman spectroscopy in the characterization of archaeological materials. In: Lewis IR, Edwards HGM (eds) Handbook of Raman spectroscopy. Marcel Dekker, New York, pp 1011–1044

    Google Scholar 

  • Edwards HGM, Newton EM, Russ J (2000) Raman spectroscopic analysis of pigments and substrata in prehistoric rock art. J Mol Struct 550-551:245–256

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • de Faria DLA, Silva SV, Oliveira MT (1997) Raman microspectroscopy of some iron oxides and oxyhydroxides. J Raman Spectrosc 28:873–878

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Freire E, Acevedo VJ, Halac EB, Polla G, López M, Reinoso M (2016) X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy study of white decorations on tricolored ceramics from northwestern Argentina. Spectrochimica Acta Part A: Molecular Biomolecular Spectroscopy 157:182–185

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • González A (1977) Arte precolombino de la Argentina. Introducción a su historia cultural. Ed. Valero, Buenos Aires

  • González AR (1998) Arte Precolombino. Cultura La Aguada. Arqueología y sus diseños. Filmediciones Valero, Buenos Aires

  • Goodall RA, Hall J, Viel R, Fredericks PM (2009) A spectroscopic investigation of pigment and ceramic samples from Copán, Honduras. Archaeometry 51(1):95–109

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Haber AF (1992) La Aguada en el Valle de Catamarca. Detección y características de sitios en la cuenca Coneta-Miraflores (Huillapima, Capayán, Catamarca, Argentina). Boletín del Museo Regional de Atacama 4:71–83

    Google Scholar 

  • Hart TR, Adams SB, Tempkin H (1976) Raman scattering from phonons and magnons in a α-iron (III) oxide. In: Balkanski M, Lite R, Porto S (eds) Proceedings of the 3rd international conference on light scattering in solids, 259. Flammarion, Paris, pp 254–258

    Google Scholar 

  • Jehliĉka J, Urban O, Pokornỳ J (2003) Raman spectroscopy of carbon and solid bitumens in sedimentary and metamorphic rocks. Spectrochim Acta A 59:2341–2352

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jian Z, Wang C, Xu C (1998) Non-destructive in situ study of white and black coating on painted pottery sherds from Bancun site (Henan, China) by Raman spectroscopy. Spectroscopic Letters 31:1431–1440

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kay PT (1994) Analysis of five Anasazi mineral paint samples. Pottery Southwest 21:1–8

    Google Scholar 

  • Kristcautzky N (1996-1997) Nuevos aportes en la arqueología del valle de Catamarca. Shincal 6:27–34

    Google Scholar 

  • Kristcautzky N, Lomaglio D (2000) “¿Aguada, o Aguadas? en el valle de Catamarca”. IV Mesa Redonda sobre la Cultura de La Aguada y su dispersión, San Pedro de Atacama. http://www.geocities.com/aguadamesaredonda/oaguadas/oaguadas.html (Accesed 20 November 2004)

  • Kristcautzky N, Togo J (1996) Prospección arqueológica en el valle central de Catamarca. Departamentos Valle Viejo, Capital, Fray Mamerto Esquiú, Paclín y Ambato. Actas y Memorias del XI Congreso Nacional de Arqueología Argentina (13° parte), Revista del Museo de Historia Natural de San Rafael, T. XXV (1/4): 141–153

  • Kristcautzky N, Lomaglio D, Morales F, Puentes H (2005) Comentarios acerca del hallazgo de un entierro múltiple Aguada Inicial en el Rodeo-Dpto. Ambato-Catamarca. In: Martín S E, Gonaldi M E (eds) La Cultura de La Aguada y sus Expresiones Regionales, EUDELAR, SECyT, Universidad Nacional de La Rioja, pp 299–306

  • Kusch MF (1991) Forma, diseño y figuración en la cerámica pintada y grabada de La Aguada. In: Podestá M, Hernández-Llosas M I, Renard S, El Arte Rupestre en la Arqueología Contemporánea, FECIC, Buenos Aires, pp. 14–24

  • Kusch MF (1996–1997) Estructura y diseño en la cerámica Portezuelo. Shincal 6:241–248

    Google Scholar 

  • Kusch MF (2000) Coincidencias y diferencias: la cerámica Portezuelo y el arte rupestre de Catamarca, In: Podestá M, Hoyos M de (eds) Arte en las Rocas. Arte Rupestre, Menhires y Piedras de Colores en Argentina, Sociedad Argentina de Antropología, Buenos Aires, pp. 95–100

  • Kusch MF, Abal C (2005) Alucinógenos y Representación. In: Martín S E, Gonaldi M E (eds) La Cultura de La Aguada y sus Expresiones Regionales, EUDELAR, SECyT, Universidad Nacional de La Rioja, pp 81–86

  • Lafone Quevedo SA (1892) Catálogo descriptivo e ilustrado de las huacas de Chañar Yaco. Revista del Museo de La Plata III:35–62

  • Lomaglio D, Kristcautzky N (2005) Deformaciones craneales en sitios Aguada del valle de Catamarca y sierras de Ambato, In: Martín S E, Gonaldi M E (eds) La Cultura de La Aguada y sus Expresiones Regionales, EUDELAR, SECyT, Universidad Nacional de La Rioja, pp 293–298

  • Maggeti M, Galetti G, Schwander H, Picon M, Wessicken R (1981) Campanian pottery: the nature of the black coating. Archaeometry 23:199–207

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maniatis Y, Aloupi E, Stalios AD (1993) New evidence for the nature of the attic black gloss. Archaeometry 35:23–34

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marte F, Acevedo VJ, Mastrangelo N (2012) Técnicas arqueométricas combinadas aplicadas al análisis de diseños de alfarería “tricolor” de Quebrada de Humahuaca, Jujuy, Argentina. Boletín del Museo de Arte Precolombino 17(2):53–64

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nazar DC (2012) El sitio La Viñita. Curso medio del Río del Valle, Provincia de Catamarca, Aportes Científicos desde Humanidades 9: 254–271

  • Nazar DC, De La Fuente GA (2016) Acerca de la cerámica Aguada Portezuelo del Valle de Catamarca y la Sierra de Ancasti. Comechingonia 20(2):153–188

    Google Scholar 

  • Noble JV (1960) Technique of attic vase-painting. Am J Archaeol 64:307–318

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pérez JM, Esteve-Tébar R (2004) Pigment identification in Greek pottery by Raman microespectroscopy. Archaeometry 46:607–614

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Puente V, Desimone PM, Tomba JP, Porto López JM (2017) Compositional variability of pigments of Belén-style prehispanic ceramics from El Bolsón Valley, Catamarca, Argentina. Journal of Archaeological Science Reports 12:553–560

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ramdohr P (1980) The ore minerals and their intergrowths, vol 2. Pergamon Press, Oxford

    Google Scholar 

  • Serrano A (1958) Manual de la Cerámica Indígena. Editorial Assandri. Córdoba. Argentina

  • Shebanova ON, Lazor P (2003) Raman spectroscopic study of magnetite (FeFe2O4): a new assignment for the vibrational spectrum. J Solid State Chem 174:424–430

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shepard A O (1976) Ceramics for the Archaeologist. Carnegie Institute of Washington, Publication 609, Washington, D.C.

  • Simon AW (1996) Pottery and pigments in Arizona: Salado Polychrome, paper presented at Revelations beneath the surface: The science of art, Arizona State University, http://archaeology.asu.edu/vm/southwest/salado/index.htm (Acdessed 15 June 2007)

  • Smith GD, Clark RJH (2001) Raman microscopy in art history and conservation science. Rev Conserv 2:92–106

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith GD, Clark RJH (2004) Raman microscopy in archaeological science. J Archaeol Sci 31:1137–1160

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Speakman RJ, Neff H (2002) Evaluation of painted pottery form the mesa Verde region using laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS). Am Antiq 67:137–144

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stewart JD, Adams KR (1999) Evaluating visual criteria for identifying carbon- and iron-based pottery paints from the four corners region using SEM-EDS. Am Antiq 64:675–696

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stewart JD, Adams KR, Borradaile GJ, MacKenzie AJ (2002) Investigations of paints on ancestral Puebloan black-on-white pottery using magnetic and microanalysis methods. J Archaeol Sci 29:1309–1316

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tite MS, Bimson M, Freestone IC (1982) An examination of the high gloss surface finishes on Greek attic and roman Samian wares. Archaeometry 24:117–126

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tuñon López JA, Sánchez Vizcaino A, Chiavazza H, Montejo Gámez M (2012) Los colores de la cerámica Viluco yDiaguita Chilena: determinación de pigmentos utilizados en la decoración cerámica indígena del norte de Mendoza (Argentina) mediante microespectroscopía Raman y microfluorescencia de energía dispersiva de rayos X. Estudios Arqueológicos de Oeiras 19:193–202

    Google Scholar 

  • de Waal D (2004) Raman investigacion of ceramics from 16th and 17th century Portuguese shipwrecks. J Raman Spectrosc 35:646–649

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zuo J, Xu C, Wang C, Yushi Z (1999) Identification of the pigment in painted pottery from the Xishan site by Raman microscopy. J Raman Spectrosc 30:1053–1055

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This research was conducted with the support of Department of Chemistry-Physics, University of Alicante, Spain. Additional support to the first author was from Escuela de Arqueología, Universidad Nacional de Catamarca and CONICET (Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas).

A preliminary paper was presented at XVIII Congreso Nacional de Arqueología Argentina in 2013, and it was benefited from comments by several colleagues. Direction of Anthropology, Government of Catamarca Province gave the special permits to send the ceramic samples to Spain for Raman analysis. Finally, the paper has benefited with comments from two anonymous reviewers whom helped to improve the discussion and the text.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratorio de Petrología y Conservación Cerámica, CITCa, Escuela de Arqueología Universidad Nacional de Catamarca/CONICET, Belgrano 300, 4700, Catamarca, Argentina

    Guillermo A. De La Fuente

  2. Departamento de Química-Física, Universidad de Alicante, Apartado 99, 03080, Alicante, Spain

    Juan Manuel Pérez Martínez

Authors
  1. Guillermo A. De La Fuente
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Juan Manuel Pérez Martínez
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Guillermo A. De La Fuente.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

De La Fuente, G.A., Pérez Martínez, J.M. Ancient potters, paintings and craft specialization in northwestern argentine region: new data through Raman characterization of pre- and postfiring ceramic paintings on Aguada Portezuelo Ceramics from Middle Period (Catamarca, Argentina). Archaeol Anthropol Sci 11, 2293–2308 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12520-018-0676-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12520-018-0676-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation