Taming the control of chronology in ancient agricultural structures in the Calchaqui Valley, Argentina: Non-traditional data sets

Abstract

The absolute chronology of the agricultural soil from organic matter has always been difficult to measure due to several reasons. In our work on the Prehispanic agriculture in the Calchaqui Valley - Argentina, however, an absolute chronology is necessary to distinguish the Inca prevalence of the previous agricultural structure. Instead of looking for a new dating methodology, we have used the 14C method trying to eliminate the error sources typical of soils. Thus, we have dated new types of agricultural structures, with the assumption that they would have worked as archaeological "seals". In the present paper we show that the dating of the beginning of the use of the Prehispanic agricultural systems has been successful.