Geology Reference
In-Depth Information
4.1.4 indicate that the geochemical signature for the three samples of ash from the Tschudi burn is consistent with coal
ash and, therefore, indicate the use of coal, and not plant material, as the fuel at the Tschudi burn.
14 C Date
C arbonized plant material is herein interpreted to have been used as tinder to start the coal and not the primary fuel.
Even though widely distributed, Peruvian coal is very difficult to ignite because it has been tectonized to a very
dense, shiny, mirror-like form of anthracite, locally called
cisco
and, therefore, does not have a large domestic or
international market. Dried plant material,
, would have been ideal tinder with which to ignite the coal.
Fragments of this plant material exposed in the upper part of the research trench (Figure 4.1.2) were submitted
for
Tillandsia
14 C dating. The calibrated result indicated that the
was closed to 14 C uptake AD 1312
1438
(Table 4.1.5) and was likely used as tinder shortly thereafter. The 14 C date indicates that (1) the Tschudi burn
took place before European contact and (2) toward the end of Chimu control and the onset of Inca domination of
the region.
Tillandsia
-
The sulfur content of the coal is also considered to be high which may contribute to pollution and fouling of the
burners. The total sulfur content of coal from Callacuyan, for example, may be as high as 23 wt% (Carrascal et al.,
2000, p. 54). The type of fuel used at the Tschudi burn had been resolved by ash chemistry, temperatures, and
supportive data. Timing of the Tschudi burn had been bracketed by isotopic data; however, another important
question,
Que cosa queman?
(What was burned?), remained.
Cremation in Society
N o geochemical evidence for metallurgy had been found in the analyses of the vessiculated adobe or the soil
samples from the Tschudi burn. Therefore, Colonel La Rosa
'
s description of
calcined human bones
burning of
Figure 4.1.2. Carbonized plant material (
Tillandsia latifolia
) to the right of scale, interpreted as tinder to start the
Tschudi burn, gave a 14 C date of AD 1312
1438. Melted, vessiculated adobe is above the plant material and poorly
sorted gravels are below. Photo by William E. Brooks, 2005
-
.
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