MULTIDISCIPLINARY APPROACH ARCHAEOLOGICAL MATERIAL ANALYSIS

As part of its enhancement activities, the Zona Arqueológica Caral has taken on the research, conservation and management of archaeological materials recovered during its archaeological intervention. Likewise, it has organized an archive of archaeological research and conservation to save the documents resulting from those activities.

Archaeological materials are processed in ZAC offices located in Lima city and the districts of Caral, Supe Puerto and Végueta, where -specifically- archaeological materials of the Caral collection are managed (documents, entries, computer records, adaptation, monitoring, transfers, etc.) and are subject to technical and specialized analysis.

Information on the recovered materials is periodically sent to the Ministry of Culture.

To carry out multidisciplinary research projects, ZAC has signed agreements with different institutions such as:

National University of San Marcos

• Department of Biological Sciences: Paleopathological analysis of coprolite samples.

• Department of Physical Sciences: X-ray fluorescence analysis of archaeological samples.

National University of Engineering

• Thermoluminescence and Optically Stimulated Luminescence dating of fire pits in the Sacred City of Caral.

• Determination of chlorides and pH (acidity) of dew collected at the researched sites.

• Determination of the proportion of clay and soluble salts in mortars.

Mining and Metallurgical Geological Institute (INGEMMET)

• PIMA and Petromineral analysis of archaeological materials.

• OSL dating of geological strata.

• Detection of underlying archaeological evidence with georadar.

Meteorology and Hydrology National Service (SENAMHI)

• Approximations to the paleoclimate; and contributions to conservation efforts through current meteorological analysis.

Geophysical Institute of Peru (IGP)

• Detection of underlying archaeological evidence with georadar.

• Archaeoastronomical study of the Sacred City of Caral.

University of Adelaide (ACAD), South Australia

• Analysis of ancient DNA in bone remains and from coprolites.

Peruvian Institute of the Sea (IMARPE)

• Research of the biological, marine, climatic and oceanographic conditions, as well as their variation and use by the populations, during the last 20,000 years in the Peruvian North-central area.

Furthermore, some specific research has been conducted with the following institutions:

Javier Prado Clinic-Pathology Laboratory

• Paleopathological analysis in coprolites.

Peruvian University Cayetano Heredia

• Analysis of pollen, phytoliths and coprolites.

University of Washington

• Research by PCR technique to study haplogroups, diet and pathogens in samples of ancient Caral DNA.

University of Florida

• Isotopic analysis to know the diet and movements of the Caral society.

University of British Columbia

• Characterization of the archaeological maize of South and Central America to document the age, genetic/phylogenetic kinship and productivity.