1976/01/01 by Heather Lechtman · 1 citation
Arts and Humanities · #Latin American history and culture
paper · doi:10.1179/009346976791547995
To help document and interpret the development of pre-Columbian metallurgy prior to the Spanish invasion of the Andes, the author conducted a survey of portions of northern and southern Peru to identify and describe early metallurgical sites including mines, ore-processing areas, smelting installations. Several of the more interesting sites are discussed in detail. Coastal and highland sources of copper ores were identified, particularly along the north coast and in the altiplano bordering Lake Titicaca. Among the most provocative results of the survey is new evidence that sulfide ores of copper were being smelted long before the arrival of the Europeans, thereby indicating a level of sophistication of Andean metallurgy not previously recognized.