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Imperial Needs, Imperial Methods: Chimú Ceramic Manufacturing Process Through CT Scan Analysis of Stirrup-Spout Bottles

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Valentine Wauters*
Affiliation:
History, Arts and Archaeology Department, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Avenue F. Roosevelt 50, 1050 Brussels, Belgium (valentine.wauters@ulb.ac.be)

Abstract

The stirrup-spout bottle is one of the most representative forms in the Chimú (A.D. 900-1470) ceramic repertoire. I discuss the ceramic assemblage of this coastal culture and describes more precisely the various manufacturing processes of the stirrup-spout bottle. Although molds used to produce these complex vessels are known today, only little information has been published on the various stages involved in their manufacture. My purpose is to contribute to this research using medical imaging computed tomography (CT) scans of intact stirrup-spout vessels. Based on my findings, I propose that changes in the construction of these vessels correlated with a transition in ceramic production to a semi-industrial level during the time of the Chimú Empire.

Resumen

Resumen

La botella de asa estribo es una de las formas más representativa del repertorio cerámico Chimú (900-1470 d.C.). Este artículo aborda el contexto cerámico de esta cultura costera y describe con mayor precisión los diferentes procesos de fabricación de la botella de asa estribo. Mientras que los moldes utilizados para la producción de este tipo de recipiente complejo son conocidos hoy en día, se publica poca información acerca de los detalles de las distintas etapas de su fabricación. El objetivo de este artículo es contribuir a este campo de investigación a través del método del escáner médico de la Tomografía Axial Computarizada (o TAC). Basado en mi investigación, propongo que los cambios en la construcción de estas botellas parecen correlacionarse con una transición en la producción cerámica a un nivel semi-industrial en la época del imperio Chimú.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Society for American Archaeology 2016

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