The Southernmost Metallurgy of the American Continent: Its Discussion and Integration Based on the Study of a Copper Ornament from the Lago Meliquina Site (Neuquén, Argentina)

This paper presents the results of a study using Particle Induced X-ray Emission (PIXE) spectrometry on a metallic artifact recovered from an open-air habitation site dated to 730 years BP at Lago Meliquina archaeological locality in Neuquén, Argentina. The artifact is an ornamental piece made from a hammered rectangular copper plate, similar to other Patagonian findings, with shared characteristics among complex hunter-gatherer groups from the lower Paraná basin. Additionally, the U-shaped or spiral fastening of needles and wires is a distinctive feature of the south-central Chilean region, persisting into historical times. The study reveals increased complexity and circulation of technical knowledge, decorative styles, and raw materials – evident in the early use of high-purity copper, the occasional inclusion of copper sulphide minerals or sulphates, and the presence of minor elements such as arsenic. These findings suggest the selective use of arsenical copper with low arsenic content and, from the Late Pottery phase onward, the introduction of arsenical bronze alloys. Finally, the metal record in general is enriched and diversified by interactions with northern native groups and Europeans. These interactions contributed to define the attributes of the metallurgical traditions in northwestern Argentine Patagonia and south-central Chile during the last millennium.