Joshua Henkin
Phytochemistry and Ethnobotany of Archaeological Residues from el Norte Grande de Chile
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Project Proposal:
Archaeological residue analysis in natural products research, ethnoarchaeology, and experimental archaeology are all uncommon paradigms, requiring expertise in both field and laboratory research. I will study the diversity of archaeological materials, especially ceramics and stone items, recovered in northern Chile (Antofagasta Region, el Norte Grande de Chile) in order to undertake a rigorous, multipronged approach in this vein that can produce new interpretations of archaeobotanical residues. These objects pertain especially to the Formative Period of Tarapacá and Loa-San Pedro cultures and from Puna de Atacama sites, such as the temple at Tulán-54. Accordingly, I propose to explore the nature of organic residues in these collections, letting their direct analysis (Raman spectroscopy) partially drive the acquisition of control samples and follow-up research strategies. Incorporating regional plant collection from floristic diversity and marketplace settings will help ensure that investigation of archaeological residues remains as unbiased as possible, while permitting in-depth study and nuanced comparisons of archaeological samples and modern samples in the laboratory (chromatography-mass spectrometry). Archaeological and field botanical research will proceed in the Antofagasta Region while the follow-up phytochemistry research will proceed in Santiago, Chile. This project seeks to invigorate the further development of archaeobotanical residue analysis for Chilean cultural heritage.
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Proposal:
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