Pre-Columbian Mining and Resource Production between Southern Peru and Northern Chile. An Analysis of the Exchange Processes Concerning Lithic and Metal Resources Used by the Pre-Columbian Cultures in the Andes

The results of this investigation contribute to the ongoing intensification of mining archaeological research in South America. Geochemical analysis and mining archaeological methods were implemented to define a small-scale mining district in Southern Peru. Jichja Parco was identified as the main supplier of obsidian throughout the whole span of human occupation in the research area, but other Trans-Andean sources have contributed raw material for the daily use of the people living in the Nasca-Palpa area. Concerning the consumption patterns of metal the research conducted confirmed the general metallurgical development model for the Andean region as the inhabitants of the research area started to incorporate gold during Early Paracas and probably introduced copper consumption at the beginning of the Nasca culture. However, the results received for the Middle Horizon indicate that an access to exotic Co-Sn and Co-As-Ni alloys from the influence sphere of the Tiwanaku Empire was given.