Stone in the Age of Clay: Lithic Use-Wear from Prehistoric Ceramic Period Sites in Chachapoyas, Peru

This paper will discuss a microscopic use-wear analysis of the lithic assemblages of Ceramic Period prehistoric sites in Chachapoyas, Peru. After a brief review of the state of lithic studies in Peruvian archaeology, I will describe the results of the low-power use-wear study, including the production of a comparative experimental collection. By contextualizing these results with other lines of evidence, I will discuss what conclusions may be drawn regarding subsistence and cultural behaviors at each site. In particular, I will highlight raw material acquisition and selection, which offer tantalizing insights into possible ceremonial behaviors in prehistoric Chachapoyas.