Research trip to Nariño (July 2025)
In July, Kate, Anne, and Agnese travelled to Pasto, Nariño, to conduct a series of experiments on how negative decoration was achieved on pre-Hispanic ceramics and goldwork. We were joined in Pasto by Lina Campos from the Museo del Oro! For Anne and Agnese, this was their first trip to Pasto, and we began the week with a visit to the Museo del Oro, Nariño. The experience was made all the more special thanks to the wonderful tour of the collections led by Carlos López.
We also visited the offices of the Observatorio Vulcanológico y Sismológico de Pasto, part of the Servicio Geológico Colombiano, to discuss the history of the Galeras Volcano Complex (GVC) with Paola Andrea Narváez. It was a fantastic opportunity to learn more about the complex history of the GVC and how it can help inform the chronology of pottery production in the region.
Later in the week, Kate, Anne, Agnese, and Lina joined Sandra Eraso Villota and Valery Salas to visit the village of Inchuchala, where they held a workshop with the Asociación Chalguar to investigate methods for achieving resist-painted negative decoration on pre-Hispanic ceramics. Using ceramics made by Sandra from clay collected by members of the Asociación, we tested several potential resist materials and different ways of applying carbon to the surface. We began the morning by painting patterns on ceramic tiles with wax and clay slip, using Pasto-style designs curated by Edwin Ceballo Tarameul. At lunch, we shared a fabulous meal of traditional local food prepared by members of the Asociación Chalguar, followed by delicious Belgian chocolates brought by Anne. That afternoon, we tried our first carbon experiment: covering the painted tiles with an organic textile dye prepared by Tatiana Hernandez, then firing them in the kiln at Myriam Bereniz Chitan’s house for a short time to char the dye. The next morning, we unloaded the tiles from the kiln and were delighted to see resist-painted patterns emerging on some of the samples! We then spent the rest of the day testing other carbon methods on the remaining pieces, sharing stories, food, and hervidos with the community.
A huge thank you to everyone at El Chalguar and to Sandra for making this workshop so successful and rewarding. Stay tuned as we continue to work through the results!