Inventario de los yacimientos de los sitios arqueológicos de la parroquia San Gerardo, cantón Guano, provincia de Chimborazo.

Abstract

This study aimed to compile and characterize the archaeological sites of the Pacaicaguan area located in San Gerardo village (Guano canto, Chimborazo province). The research was carried out in an exhaustive manner using the technique of archeological prospection. Thus, for the identification of archeological sites, aerial and satellite photographs were analyzed to detect possible deposit, then the surfase of the site was thoroughly inspected to identify remains, classify and store them, also exploratory probes were used using shovel and profile test to examine strata and obtain samples, in addition to a stratified random sampling to select the probes according to the surface of each stratum. For the analysis of the ceramic material, the material found was cleaned, classified, and codified by applying a specific analysis scheme that considers categories, morphometry, structural class, finishes, color, and decoration. The inventory card provided by the INPC (National Institute of Cultural Heritage) was used characterize the archeological site, which covers multiple aspects such as identification, characteristics, location, general condition, and research follow-up, among others. The findings allowed the registration of 322 ceramic fragments classified as diagnostic material, three mounds of natural formation with cultural evidence of a socio-cultural appropriation, a walkway, and a circular structure of a volcanic stone factory in Mound 1. To sum up, this study contributes significantly to the San Gerardo village archeological knowledge by identifying a ceremonial-funerary site associated with the Puruhà culture in the Integration Period (800 AD – 1530 AD).