Back to Search
Start Over
Unraveling the polychromy and antiquity of the Pachacamac Idol, Pacific coast, Peru
- Source :
- PLoS ONE, PLoS ONE, Public Library of Science, 2020, 15 (1), pp.e0226244. ⟨10.1371/journal.pone.0226244⟩, PLoS ONE, Vol 15, Iss 1, p e0226244 (2020)
- Publication Year :
- 2020
- Publisher :
- HAL CCSD, 2020.
-
Abstract
- Pachacamac is the name of the 15th-16th century Inca sanctuary on the Peruvian coast as well as the name of one of the principal oracles of Inca divinities. This effigy would have been destroyed by Pizarro in 1533 during his visit to the great monumental complex, and as such the originality and antiquity of the wooden statue—the so-called Pachacamac Idol—have been the subject of much controversy and debate. We present here previously unpublished dates that confirm its manufacture during the Middle Horizon (AD 500–1000), as well as evidence of its original polychromy. Traces of colors were observed on its different sections with portable microscopy and analyses with two different X-Ray Fluorescence spectrometry techniques, leading to identification of yellow, white, and red mineral pigments, including the presence of cinnabar. Dated between the 8th and 9th centuries, the statue would have been worshipped for almost 700 years, from the time of its creation to the time of the Spanish conquest, when Pachacamac was a major place of pilgrimage. These data not only offer a new perspective on Pachacamac’s emblematic sacred icon, but also on the colorful practices of the Pre-Hispanic Andes.
- Subjects :
- Pigments
Luminescence
Fluorescence Spectrometry
Social Sciences
Plant Science
Fluorophotometry
Effigy
Cultural Anthropology
Coating Materials
Spectrum Analysis Techniques
Sociology
Peru
Middle horizon
0601 history and archaeology
Materials
Paints
ComputingMilieux_MISCELLANEOUS
computer.programming_language
media_common
Multidisciplinary
060102 archaeology
Physics
Electromagnetic Radiation
Plant Anatomy
06 humanities and the arts
Art
Built Structures
Wood
Religion
Archaeology
Spectrophotometry
Physical Sciences
Engineering and Technology
Medicine
Statue
Research Article
Structural Engineering
[SHS.ARCHEO]Humanities and Social Sciences/Archaeology and Prehistory
Science
media_common.quotation_subject
Materials Science
Fluorescence spectrometry
Ancient history
Research and Analysis Methods
Fluorescence
CONQUEST
Pacific Ocean
060101 anthropology
White (horse)
Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission
Biology and Life Sciences
Pilgrimage
Anthropology
Icon
computer
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 19326203
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- PLoS ONE, PLoS ONE, Public Library of Science, 2020, 15 (1), pp.e0226244. ⟨10.1371/journal.pone.0226244⟩, PLoS ONE, Vol 15, Iss 1, p e0226244 (2020)
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....4913e29add9f0e4ebfb1d4dbe25401e7