A Pilot Study of Ceramic Production in a Residential Compound at Cerro de Oro, Cañete, (550–950 CE), An Urban Settlement in the South Coast of Perú

This article presents a synthesis of research on the chaîne opératoire of ceramic production at Cerro de Oro (550–950 CE), a significant archaeological site on the southern Peruvian coast. Specifically, we discuss the association of ceramic paste recipes (clays and added tempers), vessel forms, and decoration within a residential compound to consider the organization of ceramic production. To do so, this study integrates new data with previous results obtained from Mössbauer spectroscopy, x-ray diffraction, and other studies of ceramics from the same and other compounds. The objective is to see if specific forms, decorations, or groups of people may be associated with certain paste recipes. We argue that identifying the absence or presence of these types of associations will allow us to better understand ceramic production at Cerro de Oro and particularly the role residential groups played in this process.