Mineral pigments at Huaca Tacaynamo (Chan Chan, Peru)

Abstract

X-ray diffraction analyses of five samples of pigments from a recently excavated mural at the archaeological site of Huaca Tacaynamo, a part of the Chan Chan archaeological complex, northern Peru, show that minerals related to metal occurrences known to have been exploited by ancient Andeans were also used as pigments. These minerals include: atacamite [Cu2Cl(OH3)] for green; azurite [Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2] for blue; calcite [CaCO3] for white; cinnabar [HgS] for red; and goethite [HFeO2] for yellow. Woven plant material from Tacaynamo gave a calibrated, 2 sigma 14C date of AD 1412-1614; however, initial occupation of the site and painting of the murals may have been earlier.

Keywords

• cinnabar
• mural
• X-ray
• diffraction
• Chan Chan