Teaching Documents by Mark Aldenderfer
Papers by Mark Aldenderfer
Telarmachay: Chasseurs et Pasteurs Prehistoriques des Andes . Daniele Lavallee, Michele Julien, Jane Wheeler, Claudine Karlin
American Anthropologist, 1987
Current Anthropology, 2009
Journal of Archaeological Science, 2010
Transparent obsidian artifacts have been reported for the northern Lake Titicaca Basin. Based on ... more Transparent obsidian artifacts have been reported for the northern Lake Titicaca Basin. Based on instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) of these artifacts a distinct chemical group was identified. Yet, the location of the source of transparent obsidian in the southern Andes remained unreported in the archaeological literature. This paper reports on the chemical composition and geographic location of a source of transparent obsidian from the Macusani region of Peru. Through the use of INAA and portable X-ray fluorescence (PXRF) we demonstrate that Macusani obsidian or macusanite comprises (at least) two chemical groups. One of these groups was used for making artifacts during the Archaic Period. Artifacts made of this obsidian were found more than 120 km from the source and yet, one-third of the obsidian artifacts encountered at Macusani were from the non-local source of Chivay which is 215 km to the southwest.
Archaeological Papers of the American Anthropological Association, 2008
Although the dramatic differences in cultural complexity between the Pacific littoral cultures an... more Although the dramatic differences in cultural complexity between the Pacific littoral cultures and those in the Andean highlands during the Late Preceramic Period have long been known, until recently explanations for them have not been forthcoming. In part, this has been because of shortcomings of empirical data from the highlands as well as a general lack of systematic attempts to look at the nature and origins of persistent leadership strategies and how these might be defined in the Andes. This chapter reviews the ethnographic data on incipient forms of persistent leadership, examines the archaeological record of the Late Preceramic in the highlands for signs of it, and suggests potential explanations for why persistent leadership is uncommon. Those forms of leadership that do appear in the Late Preceramic appear to be based on lineage principles and the control of religious beliefs through ritual practice and are found in ecological contexts of relative resource abundance.
Journal of Archaeological Method and Theory, 2021
Neolithization was a complex, protracted process of domestication, sedentarization, and technolog... more Neolithization was a complex, protracted process of domestication, sedentarization, and technology change that occurred in various combinations in various times and places around the world. Understanding the causal relationships among those and other important human behaviors remains an analytical challenge. This study examines Neolithization through the lens of lithic artifact variation in the Lake Titicaca Basin, Peru. Drawing on previous lithics research, we outline a synthetic model linking changing diet, mobility, and projectile technology to predicted trends in lithic assemblages. The expectations are then compared to two large, well-dated lithic assemblages from the Titicaca Basin—one from the Middle/Late Archaic forager site of Soro Mik’aya Patjxa (8.0–6.5 cal. ka) and the other from the Terminal Archaic horticultural site of Jiskairumoko (5.2–3.4 cal. ka). We find that the strongest signal in lithic technology change is related to the introduction of archery technology. Sig...
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Science, 2021
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Quantification and Social Life
The Encyclopedia of Archaeological Sciences
Defining Best 3D Practices in Archaeology<BR> Comparing Laser Scanning and Dense Stereo Matching Techniques for 3D Intrasite Data Recording
Advances in Archaeological Practice, 2014
This research aims to investigate the potential use of three-dimensional (3D) technologies for th... more This research aims to investigate the potential use of three-dimensional (3D) technologies for the analysis and interpretation of heritage sites. This article uses different 3D survey technologies to find the most appropriate methods to document archaeological stratigraphy, based on diverse environmental conditions, light exposures, and varied surfaces. The use of 3D laser scanners and dense stereo matching (DSM) techniques is now well established in archaeology. However, no convincing comparisons between those techniques have been presented. This research fills this gap to provide an accurate data assessment for the Las Cuevas site (Belize) and represents a starting point for the definition of a sharable methodology. Tests in Las Cuevas were conducted to compare both accuracy and density reliability in cave environments using two different techniques: triangulation light laser scanner and DSM. This study finds that DSM is the most economical, portable, and flexible approach for the...
Journal of Archaeological Science, 2007
Chemical sourcing is becoming an increasingly important component of archaeological investigation... more Chemical sourcing is becoming an increasingly important component of archaeological investigation. Instruments used for elemental analysis generally must be operated in a controlled laboratory environment. Further, many methods require destruction of a small portion of the objects under investigation. These facts inhibit the application of chemical sourcing studies in a number of research contexts. Use of portable nondestructive instruments would resolve these issues. Sixty-eight obsidian artifacts from the site of Jiskairumoko, in southern Perú, were examined by X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF) and portable X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (PXRF). Results were compared for consistency in terms of source determination and individual element concentrations. Both instruments determined that the same sixty-six artifacts derived from the Chivay obsidian source and both identified the same two artifacts that could not be assigned to source. Individual element comparisons showed significant differences, but these can be resolved through instrument cross calibration, and differences had no bearing on source identification. PXRF was found suitable for determining obsidian sources in southern Perú and for identifying specimens that require more sensitive analytical methods such as, instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA). Regular use of Chivay at Jiskairumoko suggests consistent trade relationships developed during the Archaic.
Proxy reconstructions of precipitation from central India, north-central China, and southern Viet... more Proxy reconstructions of precipitation from central India, north-central China, and southern Vietnam reveal a series of monsoon droughts during the mid 14the15th centuries that each lasted for several years to decades. These monsoon megadroughts have no analog during the instrumental period. They occurred in the context of widespread thermal and hydrologic climate anomalies marking the onset of the Little Ice Age (LIA) and appear to have played a major role in shaping significant regional societal changes at that time. New tree ring-width based reconstructions of monsoon variability suggest episodic and widespread reoccurrences of monsoon megadroughts continued throughout the LIA. Although the El-Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) plays an important role in monsoon variability, there is no conclusive evidence to suggest that these megadroughts were associated with anomalous sea surface temperature anomalies that were solely the result of ENSO-like variability in the tropical Pacific. Instead, the causative mechanisms of these megadroughts may reside in protracted changes in the synoptic-scale monsoon climatology of the Indian Ocean. Today, the intra-seasonal monsoon variability is dominated by 'active' and the 'break' spells e two distinct oscillatory modes of monsoon that have radically different synoptic scale circulation and precipitation patterns. We suggest that protracted locking of the monsoon into the " break-dominated " mode e a mode that favors reduced precipitation over the Indi-an sub-continent and SE Asia and enhanced precipitation over the equatorial Indian Ocean, may have caused these exceptional droughts. Impetus for periodic locking of the monsoon into this mode may have been provided by cooler temperatures at the extratropical latitudes in the Northern Hemisphere which forced the mean position of the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) further southward in the Indian Ocean.
Defining best 3D practices in archaeology: comparing laser scanning and dense stereo matching techniques for 3D intrasite data recording
This research aims to investigate the potential use of three-dimensional (3D) technologies for th... more This research aims to investigate the potential use of three-dimensional (3D) technologies for the analysis and interpretation of heritage sites. This article uses different 3D survey technologies to find the most appropriate methods to document archaeological stratigraphy, based on diverse environmental conditions, light exposures, and varied surfaces. The use of 3D laser scanners and dense stereo matching (DSM) techniques is now well established in archaeology. However, no convincing comparisons between those techniques have been presented. This research fills this gap to provide an accurate data assessment for the Las Cuevas site (Belize) and represents a starting point for the definition of a sharable methodology. Tests in Las Cuevas were conducted to compare both accuracy and density reliability in cave environments using two different techniques: triangulation light laser scanner and DSM. This study finds that DSM is the most economical, portable, and flexible approach for the 3D documentation of archaeological sites today. In fact, DSM allows the 3D documentation process to be done more efficiently, reducing both data acquisition and processing time. Nonetheless, the quantitative comparison presented in this paper underscores the need to integrate this technique with other technologies when the data acquisition of micro-stratigraphy is required.
Spanish
Este ensayo analiza la potencialidad de las tecnologías 3D para el análisis e interpretación del patrimonio histórico y cultural. Este trabajo usa diferentes técnicas 3D con el fin de encontrar los métodos más apropiados para documentar la estratigrafía arqueológica, basados en diversas condiciones ambientales, exposición a la luz y variedad de superficies. A pesar de que actualmente se ha establecido el uso de las técnicas de laser escáner 3D y de la técnica fotogramétrica (DSM) “dense stereo matching” en el campo arqueológico, considero no convincentes las comparaciones que se han hecho hasta el presente entre estas dos técnicas. Esta investigación colma este vacío proveyendo una detallada evaluación de los datos de los asentamientos arqueológicos de Las Cuevas (Belize) y representa un punto de partida concreto hacia la definición de una metodología compartible. Utilizando dos técnicas diferentes, la triangulación de la luz del escáner láser y DSM, se hicieron análisis en Las Cuevas para comparar la precisión y la fiabilidad de densidad en entornos rupestres. Este estudio encontró que el DSM es más económico, portátil, y flexible para la documentación 3D de sitios arqueológicos en la actualidad. De hecho, el DSM permite el proceso de documentación 3D reduciendo tanto la adquisición de datos como el tiempo del proceso. No obstante la comparación cuantitativa presentada en este ensayo, cabe subrayar la necesidad de integrar dicha técnica con otras tecnologías, cuando la adquisición de datos requiere una micro estratigrafía.
This paper describes the results of a microwear analysis of Late Classic Period lithic materials ... more This paper describes the results of a microwear analysis of Late Classic Period lithic materials from the central Peten lakes region, Guatemala, and shows how the empirical data derived from microwear analysis can be used to address questions of broader anthropological concern, such as the nature of lithic craft specialization in Lowland Maya society, the structure of its control, and its spatial manifestations.
Journal of Archaeological Science 37: 569–576, 2010
"Transparent obsidian artifacts have been reported for the northern Lake Titicaca Basin. Based on... more "Transparent obsidian artifacts have been reported for the northern Lake Titicaca Basin. Based on instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) of these artifacts a distinct chemical group was identified.
Yet, the location of the source of transparent obsidian in the southern Andes remained unreported in the archaeological literature. This paper reports on the chemical composition and geographic location of a source of transparent obsidian from the Macusani region of Peru. Through the use of INAA and portable X-ray fluorescence (PXRF) we demonstrate that Macusani obsidian or macusanite comprises (at least) two chemical groups. One of these groups was used for making artifacts during the Archaic Period. Artifacts made of this obsidian were found more than 120 km from the source and yet, one-third of the obsidian artifacts encountered at Macusani were from the non-local source of Chivay which is 215 km to the southwest."
Your article is protected by copyright and all rights are held exclusively by Springer-Verlag Ber... more Your article is protected by copyright and all rights are held exclusively by Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg. This e-offprint is for personal use only and shall not be selfarchived in electronic repositories. If you wish to self-archive your article, please use the accepted manuscript version for posting on your own website. You may further deposit the accepted manuscript version in any repository, provided it is only made publicly available 12 months after official publication or later and provided acknowledgement is given to the original source of publication and a link is inserted to the published article on Springer's website. The link must be accompanied by the following text: "The final publication is available at link.springer.com".
Journal of Archaeological Science, 2010
Transparent obsidian artifacts have been reported for the northern Lake Titicaca Basin. Based on ... more Transparent obsidian artifacts have been reported for the northern Lake Titicaca Basin. Based on instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) of these artifacts a distinct chemical group was identified. Yet, the location of the source of transparent obsidian in the southern Andes remained unreported in the archaeological literature. This paper reports on the chemical composition and geographic location of a source of transparent obsidian from the Macusani region of Peru. Through the use of INAA and portable X-ray fluorescence (PXRF) we demonstrate that Macusani obsidian or macusanite comprises (at least) two chemical groups. One of these groups was used for making artifacts during the Archaic Period. Artifacts made of this obsidian were found more than 120 km from the source and yet, one-third of the obsidian artifacts encountered at Macusani were from the non-local source of Chivay which is 215 km to the southwest.
Revista de Antropologia Chilena, CHUNGARA, Vol. 43, No. Especial 1: 531-550, 2011
"Los autores identifican los problemas de investigación del Período Arcaico (10.000-3.400 a.p.) e... more "Los autores identifican los problemas de investigación del Período Arcaico (10.000-3.400 a.p.) en la zona Centro-Sur de los Andes, para sugerir las prioridades que se deben tomar en cuenta para la realización de futuros estudios arqueológicos en la región. Varios temas arqueológicos aún permanecen inconclusos: (1) Los orígenes de los primeros habitantes de los Andes Centro-Sur. ¿Por dónde llegaron, en qué condiciones climáticas, cuál fue la cultura material que aportaron y cómo se dio el paso hacia el período Arcaico? (2) ¿Qué se conoce del tiempo arcaico en los flancos orientales de los Andes? (3) ¿Dónde se observa el Arcaico boliviano y cuáles son sus características? (4) ¿Cuál fue la adaptación del Arcaico en la zona peruana del Lago Titicaca? (5) ¿Cuál es el estado de
la cronología regional que hemos construido para el Arcaico? ¿Qué estudios se han hecho y cuánto falta por hacer? Por último, concluimos con una discusión de tres aspectos principales del proceso cultural de la región: (a) las adaptaciones de los primeros habitantes de la región, (b) el proceso de domesticación del ganado y la cultivación agrícola, y (c) el inicio y origen del desarrollo de la sociedad compleja y la jerarquía social."
Journal of Archaeological Science 38, 2011
"Este trabajo informa sobre los nuevos datos sobre los estanques llamados qocha en la zona interf... more "Este trabajo informa sobre los nuevos datos sobre los estanques llamados qocha en la zona interfluvial de los ríos Pucara y de Azángaro, al norte de Cuenca del Lago Titicaca, Perú. Qocha son una forma poco conocida de la agricultura andina que se desarrolló alrededor de 800 - 500 a.C., y siguen en uso hoy en día. Las estimaciones previas sugirieron que en el área de estudio, hubo más de 25.000 qocha. Aunque la mayoría de los otros ejemplos de lechos hundidos en los Andes se excavaron para llegar a las aguas subterráneas, estas qochas son estanques de secano. ¿Cómo estos estanques alimentados por la lluvia ha funcionado? ha sido una cuestión abierta, pero que se responde en parte por la investigación presentada en este artículo. Sugerimos que una gruesa capa impermeable de arcilla que se depositó, posiblemente, por el paleolago "Minchin" creó una capa de agua retenida que hace de la qocha un reservorio de secano que hace posible la agricultura. La geología de campo muestra que dentro del área de estudio, este estrato sólo existe en la Terraza E. Con base en este modelo, la hipótesis de que la persistencia de utilizar la qocha sólo se encuentra en la terraza E. Para probar esta hipótesis se utilizaron los datos de teledetección para el inventario de qochas para determinar su distribución por todas las presentes terrazas. Se identificaron 11.737 qochas. Por áreas se cuenta con 93,77% a
94,33% de las qocha que se encuentran en la terraza de E. Estos resultados apoyaron la hipótesis. Este estudio de caso pone de manifiesto que la viabilidad a largo plazo de esta forma de agricultura, posible gracias a un contexto físico que está más allá del control humano."
Archaeological Chemistry: Analytical Techniques and Archaeological Interpretation, 2007
3D Documentation in Archaeology: Recording Las Cuevas Site, Chiquibul Reserve, Belize.
This research aims to define new methodologies for the 3D documentation and preservation of archa... more This research aims to define new methodologies for the 3D documentation and preservation of archaeological sites. In this paper we will show one approach to document completely aspects of an archaeological site using different 3D survey technologies and find the most appropriate methods, based on diverse environmental conditions and light exposures, and with varied surfaces. During the summer 2011 fieldwork campaign a test was conducted in the Las Cuevas’s site (Chiquibul Reserve, western Belize). Thanks to this test was possible to demonstrate the reliability of the triangulation laser scanner technique in terms of accuracy in cave environment. This kind of technology allowed the high resolution data capture of the excavation process in 3D. The final result was the 3D models of the units’ levels (meshes and textures applied). Moreover the comparison between triangulation laser scanner and dense stereo matching techniques showed pros and cons of the two recording methods.
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Teaching Documents by Mark Aldenderfer
Papers by Mark Aldenderfer
Spanish
Este ensayo analiza la potencialidad de las tecnologías 3D para el análisis e interpretación del patrimonio histórico y cultural. Este trabajo usa diferentes técnicas 3D con el fin de encontrar los métodos más apropiados para documentar la estratigrafía arqueológica, basados en diversas condiciones ambientales, exposición a la luz y variedad de superficies. A pesar de que actualmente se ha establecido el uso de las técnicas de laser escáner 3D y de la técnica fotogramétrica (DSM) “dense stereo matching” en el campo arqueológico, considero no convincentes las comparaciones que se han hecho hasta el presente entre estas dos técnicas. Esta investigación colma este vacío proveyendo una detallada evaluación de los datos de los asentamientos arqueológicos de Las Cuevas (Belize) y representa un punto de partida concreto hacia la definición de una metodología compartible. Utilizando dos técnicas diferentes, la triangulación de la luz del escáner láser y DSM, se hicieron análisis en Las Cuevas para comparar la precisión y la fiabilidad de densidad en entornos rupestres. Este estudio encontró que el DSM es más económico, portátil, y flexible para la documentación 3D de sitios arqueológicos en la actualidad. De hecho, el DSM permite el proceso de documentación 3D reduciendo tanto la adquisición de datos como el tiempo del proceso. No obstante la comparación cuantitativa presentada en este ensayo, cabe subrayar la necesidad de integrar dicha técnica con otras tecnologías, cuando la adquisición de datos requiere una micro estratigrafía.
Yet, the location of the source of transparent obsidian in the southern Andes remained unreported in the archaeological literature. This paper reports on the chemical composition and geographic location of a source of transparent obsidian from the Macusani region of Peru. Through the use of INAA and portable X-ray fluorescence (PXRF) we demonstrate that Macusani obsidian or macusanite comprises (at least) two chemical groups. One of these groups was used for making artifacts during the Archaic Period. Artifacts made of this obsidian were found more than 120 km from the source and yet, one-third of the obsidian artifacts encountered at Macusani were from the non-local source of Chivay which is 215 km to the southwest."
la cronología regional que hemos construido para el Arcaico? ¿Qué estudios se han hecho y cuánto falta por hacer? Por último, concluimos con una discusión de tres aspectos principales del proceso cultural de la región: (a) las adaptaciones de los primeros habitantes de la región, (b) el proceso de domesticación del ganado y la cultivación agrícola, y (c) el inicio y origen del desarrollo de la sociedad compleja y la jerarquía social."
94,33% de las qocha que se encuentran en la terraza de E. Estos resultados apoyaron la hipótesis. Este estudio de caso pone de manifiesto que la viabilidad a largo plazo de esta forma de agricultura, posible gracias a un contexto físico que está más allá del control humano."