June 9, 2017

Oldest Crafted Copper Object in South America Uncovered in Argentina

The oldest carefully crafted copper object ever made in South America has been uncovered in the La Quebrada region of Argentina. The mask is dated to 1000 BCE. It is a delicate copper mask. And the location in Argentina may show that copper technology had more than one place of origin. The mask was cold hammered and re-heated and then deposited as a grave good. The grave the mask was found in had 14 bodies of men, women and children. And then a single grave with a child buried with a bead and copper pendant. So metal working originated in small remote agricultural level communities.
The research is published in the journal Antiquity.

The International Business Times has the report with great photos;
http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/3000-year-old-copper-mask-found-mass-grave-oldest-ever-discovered-south-america-1625586

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