Academic literature on the topic 'Ecuador – Antiquities'

This article is related to the 100th anniversary of the birth of the world famous North American archaeologist Betty Jane Meggers (1921–2012), who made an invaluable contribution to the study of archaeological antiquities in Ecuador, Brazil, Venezuela, Chile, Peru, etc. Her long list of achievements includes the creation of a chronological chart for the archaeological cultures of the coastal part of Ecuador (in collaboration with Clifford Evans), remaining relevant today. Also, the name of B. J. Meggers is often mentioned in the context of the debatable hypothesis “Jōmon-Valdivia” which was made at the very beginning of the 1960s. It is focused on the possibility of transoceanic contacts between the population of the Japanese archipelago and the inhabitants of the Pacific coast of South America 5500–6000 years ago. This was preceded by a significant period of B. Meggers’ work in the Amazon (1947–1954). A brief outline of the first half of life and career of the North American researcher allows us to trace the main stages of transformations of her scientific interests. Keywords: South America, Brazil, Ecuador, Amazonia, biography, research history

AbstractTsantsas, commonly referred to as “shrunken heads”, are unique and valuable antiquities that were produced by the Shuar, Achuar, Awajún/Aguaruna, Wampís/Huambisa, and Candoshi-Shampra (SAAWC) peoples until the mid twentieth century. Originally used with ceremonial purpose during important social group functions, tsantsas became monetarily valuable as keepsakes and curios during the nineteenth century as a result of Western/European cultural encroachment. Unmet demand resulted in the production of convincing forgeries that created confusion about the authenticity of existing collections. Ceremonial tsantsas are both human remains and valuable cultural items. Their production and purpose were negatively influenced by colonialism and the outside curio market; as such many institutions may choose to repatriate them to their places of origin. Herein, we report on the authentication and repatriation of a ceremonial tsantsa recently rediscovered in a university’s natural history collection. The personal memoirs of the original collector describe that it originated in the Ecuadorean Amazon. In consultation with the government of Ecuador, it was determined that authentication was required prior to repatriation. The tsantsa was compared to a list of thirty-three distinct characteristics shared by ceremonial tsantsas. These criteria were taken from those provided by Ecuador’s National Cultural Heritage Institute and those found in prior studies from the academic literature; they include notable skin and hair features, structure and facial anatomy, and evidence of traditional fabrication and modification. We were able to affirm 30 of the 33 authenticating indicators. As part of our protocol the tsantsa was scanned with a CT-imaging system. The resulting 3D images were invaluable in discerning subtle and difficult-to-visualize characteristics regarding the skin and patterns of modification, although there are limitations related to the small size of filamentous structures. The results of the authentication were accepted by the Ecuadorean government, and the tsantsa was repatriated in June 2019. An additional benefit of CT-imaging is that data files can be generated in order to create rapid prototypes via 3D printing. In fact, as our work demonstrates, artifacts of value can be repatriated while simultaneously preserved as a volumetric replica for the purposes of a collection.

This thesis explores the Quijos Valley ground stone economy in relation to broader social, political, and economic aspects of the Quijos chiefdoms during the Late Period (AD 500 – 1500). In particular, this research examines the extent to which ground stone craft production was a dimension of social differentiation during a period marked by the greatest sociopolitical transformations. Ultimately, this research suggests that Late Period ground stone production was an independent and part-time household activity, and not an avenue of elite aggrandizement. However, aspects of this research have aimed to show that certain forms of ground stone were important implements of household maintenance, both socially and economically. This research is embedded within the Quijos Valley Regional Archaeological Project (QVRAP) and has aimed to contribute to our understanding of the development of social complexity within this region, as well as contributing to our understanding of ground stone craft production more generally.
x, 244 leaves ; 29 cm

Depuis les années 1970, les imposantes structures fortifiées de la vallée du fleuve Cuyes, -située au sud de l'Équateur, à la frontière entre les Andes et l’Amazonie correspondant à la province de Morona Santiago-, ont attiré l'attention des anthropologues et archéologues : ces constructions ont-elles été bâties et occupées par des populations andines ? amazoniennes ? à quelle époque et dans quel contexte ? La thèse vise à alimenter la discussion grâce à l’application d'une méthodologie d’analyse de la céramique ancienne tout à fait novatrice pour l’archéologie de la région, basée sur le concept de chaîne opératoire et une lecture anthropologique du matériel
Since the 1970’s, the impressive fortified structures of the Cuyes river valley -located in the south of Ecuador, at the border between the Andes and the Amazonian lowlands-, have caught the interest of anthropologists and archaeologists: were these structures built and inhabited by Andean populations? Amazonian? when and in what kind of context? The dissertation aims at bringing new data to the debate through the use of a methodology of analysis of ancient ceramics totally new for the archaeology of the region, based on the concept of “chaîne opératoire” and on an anthropological interpretation of the material