From Queshqa to Callango: a Paracas obsidian assemblage from the lower Ica Valley, Peru

Obsidian constitutes a significant lithic material recovered from Paracas (first millennium B.C.) sites in south coastal Peru. Its presence in a variety of site contexts indicates that interaction with the neighboring highlands was well established, as one of the principal sources is Quispisisa at a distance of 225 km. In this study we discuss an obsidian assemblage from the Callango sector of the lower Ica Valley and the results of neutron activation analysis (NAA) that have determined Quispisisa as the source. These analyses advance and refine our understanding of local and long-distance interaction between the coast and highlands and contribute to broader concerns about the activities associated with procurement and exchange. Test results produce the first chemical signatures for a Paracas residential site in the lower Ica Valley. Our study adds to the ongoing inquiry about obsidian geochemistry and how source loci analysis complements questions about the materials and social interactions of pre-Hispanic cultures.