Runa (Jul 2015)
On pots and sources in Patagonian ethnohistory
Abstract
The purpose of this essay is to enhance the inquiry on aboriginal pottery from Patagonia and surrounding areas, according to documentary sources. The available data for ceramic containers and alternative materials is reviewed, including their types, uses, and provenances. In order to evaluate documents representativeness, a confidence measurement is deployed by means of comparative data on leather working. It is discussed the role of regional pottery through time, the relationship between information lacks and historical absences, the existence of non-utilitarian choices, and causal factors for change.
