Ancon and Garagay ceramic production at the time of Chavin de Huantar

Ceramics from Ancon and Garagay, two early sites on the central coast of Pe ru, are analysed to verify the existence of ceramic exchange. The analysis technique are petrography, X-ray fluorescence, scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis (SEM-EDX). The results are compa red to a larger data bank including ceramics from the sites of Chavin de Hu antar, Pallka, Huaricoto and smaller sites in the Nepena valley. The analys es yield interesting information on ceramic production, which is mostly loc al, and unexpected results regarding the lack of compositional similarities between the ceramics analysed from Ancon and Garagay. The results suggest that, although the sites are close to each other, interactions and ceramic exchange should be sought for among communities within the same drainage. C opyright 2001 Academic Press