PROCESAMIENTO DE METALES DURANTE EL HORIZONTE MEDIO EN EL ALTIPLANO SURANDINO (ESCARAMAYU, PULACAYO, POTOSÍ, BOLIVIA)

Abstract

In this article we present and analyze the results obtained to date in the metallurgical sector of site Pulac 050 (Escaramayu, Pulacayo, Bolivia). Thus far the studies conducted in this sector present evidence of a complex of four metallurgical furnaces that are spatially associated with a group of enclosures at the site that have been dated to the Middle Horizon. The remains of various materials including slags, metals, and minerals are found together with thefurnaces. Lead isotope analyses of these materials suggest strongly that the ore smelted at the site was obtained from the complex lead, silver, copper, zinc deposit at Pulacayo. Three of the furnaces appear to have been used to smelt ore; the fourth furnace likely refined impure metal contained in ceramic crucibles. Key words: metallurgy, smelting and refining furnaces, Middle Horizon.