RESUMEN A pesar de la excepcional arquitectura y policromía del sitio arqueológico de Tambo Colorado, no ha habido trabajos de conservación ni en las estructuras arquitectónicas de tierra cruda, ni en las superficies. Estos trabajos requieren una comprensión adecuada del estado de conservación de la arquitectura del sitio y el análisis de los materiales utilizados. Con este propósito, los resultados del presente estudio pretenden explicar la naturaleza de los materiales (pigmentos) utilizados en las pinturas murales, así como determinar las fuentes de estos materiales (canteras). Para ello, pigmentos de cantera fueron investigados por la técnica de difracción de rayos X, usando radiación sincrotrón, y refinamiento estructural por el método de Rietveld. Se determinó la composición de los pigmentos, identificando las fases de anortita, hematita, cuarzo, clorita, halita, yeso, ortoclasa, illita, jarosita, calcita, caolinita, zinwaldita, cristobalita, anhidrita y albita. El refinamiento Rietveld confirmó la presencia de estas fases y determinó el porcentaje en peso de cada una de ellas.

Despite the exceptional architecture and polychromy of archaeological site of Tambo Colorado, there has been no conservation work or in the architectural structures of raw earth, nor on the surfaces. These jobs require a proper understanding of the state of conservation of the site architecture and the analysis of the materials used. With this purpose, the results of the present study tries to explain the nature of the materials (pigments) used in the mural paintings, as well as determine the sources of these materials (quarries). To do this, pigments of quarry were investigated by the technique of X-ray diffraction, using synchrotron radiation, and structural refinement by the Rietveld method. It was determined the composition of pigments, identifying the phases of anorthite, quartz, hematite, chlorite, halite, gypsum, orthoclase, illite, jarosite, calcite, kaolinite, zinwaldite, cristobalite, anhydrite and albite. Rietveld refinement confirmed the presence of these phases and determined the percentage by weight of each of them.

The evidence presented in this paper is a first effort to contextualize aspects related to the sourcing, production and uses of red paint during the second millennium BC in Northern Peru. The site tested was Gramalote, a fishing settlement of the Peruvian North Coast. The results show that the inhabitants of this settlement had access to a local source of hematite but they also used cinnabar that came from a distant region located in the Southern Highlands. Based on the abundance of lithic and bone tools, shell containers and ceramic seal stamps, the authors of this article study the process behind the production of this painting. Using physicochemical techniques such as Portable X-ray fluorescence (XRF) technology complemented with structural analysis through X-ray diffraction, applying conventional and synchrotron radiation on selected samples, the authors look at issues related to sourcing, production and uses of the red pigment. In addition, isotopic analysis helped to determine the provenience of cinnabar which is also the earliest evidence of human use of this mineral in the Andean region. Temporal and contextual distributions of these artifacts are analyzed to understand the manipulation and uses of the red paint. Finally, this study also gives a glimpse of the symbolic meaning red pigment could have played in the daily life of a second millennium BC maritime community on the Pacific coast of Peru.

La degradacion de las construcciones en tierra tiene como resultado, entre otras patologias, la formacion de grietas, perdida de materiales, disminucion en la rigidez de las estructuras, etc. Normalmente la reparacion de estas grietas en muros que forman parte de un edificio patrimonial consistia en la reposicion de la mamposteria alrededor de donde se habia formado la grieta, en otras ocasiones, se recurria al resanado perfilando la grieta, al desarmado del muro en la zona afectada, etc. Estas formas de conservacion eran muy intrusivas y alteraban notoriamente el aspecto del elemento intervenido. Por estas razones se considero necesario aplicar otro tipo de procedimiento mas compatible y que altere en menor medida las estructuras conservadas, para preservar su estabilidad. El empleo de barro liquido ofrece una alternativa de solucion, la aplicacion de inyecciones de barro liquido en las grietas da la posibilidad de conservar un muro u otro elemento agrietado sin alterar su aspecto original, ademas permite llegar a profundidad dentro del muro en grietas de muy poco espesor logrando consolidar un mayor volumen de la estructura. En el Peru y a nivel mundial existen experiencias hechas en laboratorio que han obtenido buenos resultados y que se pudo recopilar; Sin embargo las conclusiones de su aplicacion practica en construcciones arqueologicas todavia no han sido muy difundidos a pesar de los resultados positivos de los ensayos realizados. El presente trabajo trata acerca de los procedimientos para la aplicacion de grouts de barro liquido utilizados en la conservacion de muros arqueologicos precolombinos Inca, ademas de los cuidados en la preparacion de las mezclas asi como de las limitaciones encontradas durante su aplicacion en campo.

Tambo Colorado is one of the most impressive archaeological sites in the Southern Peruvian coast, because of its stunning architecture, its extraordinary pictorial decoration, and its strategic location in the section of the Great Inca Road.The Research Project Tambo Colorado considers necessary to conduct a comprehensive analysis encompassing nature of the materials (archaeometric analysis) as well as a proper understanding of their conservation status of its architecture. In this regard interdisciplinary research provides the necessary tools to achieve these goals. For this reason our team is integrated by archaeometrists, engineers, conservators and archaeologists. Due to of this transdisciplinary approach, one of the main objective is the study of painting technology developed by the craftsmen of the site. The first results obtained, thanks to an analytical strategy combining observation and elemental and structural analysis (colorimetry, SEM-EDS, XRF, XRD and SXRD), allow us to identify the coloring materials used. These data enabled to reconstruct the operational chain followed to elaborate the murals (since the pigments extraction to the making of the murals) but also to consider and develop a suitable surfaces conservation plan.

Since 2007, the research led on the Huaca Ventarrón site has allowed investigators to discover outstanding wall paintings. These murals are one of the oldest examples of this artistic expression in the Andean area and American continent (4000 BP). Analyses have given indications on the materials and techniques used by the first painters, ancestors of a long pictorial tradition.

El 24 y 25 de noviembre de 2014, se realizo el II Taller de Arqueometria organizado por el Instituto Frances de Estudios Andinos y el Ministerio de Cultura del Peru a traves del Museo de Sitio de Pachacamac. Este evento se dio con la intencion de contribuir a la capacitacion de profesionales jovenes interesados en conocer los multiples aspectos relacionados con las tecnicas, metodologias y alcances de la arqueometria. Hoy, mas que nunca, el quehacer del arqueologo se relaciona con la investig...

El 24 y 25 de noviembre de 2014, se realizo el II Taller de Arqueometria organizado por el Instituto Frances de Estudios Andinos y el Ministerio de Cultura del Peru a traves del Museo de Sitio de Pachacamac. Este evento se dio con la intencion de contribuir a la capacitacion de profesionales jovenes interesados en conocer los multiples aspectos relacionados con las tecnicas, metodologias y alcances de la arqueometria. Hoy, mas que nunca, el quehacer del arqueologo se relaciona con la investig...

Del 14 al 16 de abril de 2014 se realizo el I Taller Internacional de Arqueometria en el Museo Arqueologico San Miguel de Azapa, en Arica, Chile, en el cual se celebro la inauguracion del Laboratorio de Analisis e Investigaciones Arqueometricas (LAIA) de la Universidad de Tarapaca - Arica. La creacion del Laboratorio de Analisis e Investigaciones Arqueometricas (LAIA), en 2009, fue impulsada por su actual directora, la Dra. Marcela Sepulveda. Dicho laboratorio cristaliza los cambios metodolog...

El 1er Curso de Arqueometria Aplicada al Estudio y Proteccion del Patrimonio Historico, Artistico y Cultural, se desarrollo en la ciudad de Trujillo del 11 al 15 de marzo de 2013. Organizado por el Proyecto Arqueologico Huaca del Sol y de la Luna, el Patronato Huacas del Valle de Moche y el Instituto Frances de Estudios Andinos, el curso se enfoco en la «Arqueometria aplicada a la conservacion arqueologica». Este evento deseaba reunir al conjunto de investigadores en los distintos campos impl...

To the Mochica civilization, mural art represented an important form of artistic expression that allowed the rulers to deliver a symbolic message of established political power to the people. It not only had a decorative function but also a much more symbolic role: one with an ideological vector, essential for a civilization without any textual writing. The importance of mural decoration within Mochica society inspired us to push beyond the previous research, taking an interest in studying the production process of these murals by using a form of archaeometry, rarely employed in Peru. Through the physicochemical study of the polychromy of the Huaca de la Luna, of the Huaca Cao Viejo, of the complex of Castillo de Huancaco, and of the funeral platform of Sipán, we have been able to obtain clues to the Mochica’s pictorial techniques and the painters’ identity.

To the Mochica civilisation, a pre-Inca society that developed on the north coast of Peru from the 1st to the 9th century AD, mural art represented an important form of artistic expression. Mainly reserved for cultural buildings _ or huacas _ these monumental painted scenes created a privileged means of communication that allowed the rulers to deliver to the people a symbolic message of the established political power and of the social order.The importance of mural decoration within Mochica society inspired us to push the previous research on these rare relics further. In addition to the iconographic interpretations, it seemed essential to us to take an interest in the creation and elaboration process of these murals, by using archaeometry, rarely employed in Peru. Thus, through the physicochemical study of the polychromy of the Huaca de la Luna, of the Huaca Cao Viejo, of the monumental complex of Castillo de Huancaco, and of the funeral platform of Sipán, we have been able to obtain clues to the pictorial techniques used by the Mochicas artists.

The discovery of an earthen architectural structure at the Manteño site of Japoto led us to develop an archaeometric study. From the physico-chemical analyses carried out on a representative sample, we characterized the building materials that were used and recovered clues on their geologic origin. We wished also to understand why several areas of the structure presented signs of heating. With these results, we were able to start developing some preservation problematics. The conclusions reached were consistent with unpublished data and confirm the value of archaeometry within the framework of this type of archaeological research project.

L’art Mochica, culture pre-Incaique qui s’est developpee sur la cote nord du Perou des le Ier siecle de notre ere, est etonnant par la richesse de ses decors et la variete de ses supports : panneaux muraux, ceramique, metal, textile, etc. Les artisans y representaient leur environnement, leurs activites, leurs mythes et leurs croyances. L’etude de ces diverses formes d’expressions artistiques constitue, chaque jour un peu plus pour les archeologues, un moyen d’apprehender et de comprendre cette societe complexe. Cette rencontre s’axe sur le remarquable patrimoine archeologique d’une des plus celebres civilisations de l’ancien Perou. Les trois invites chercheurs Carole FRARESSO, Veronique WRIGHT et Nicolas GOEPFERT presentent les recents resultats de leurs travaux a la Huaca de la Luna pres de Trujillo au Perou.