Pituro Dark Polished (Early 2 Period)

This type is characterized by a dark color and a polished, shiny surface. Porras’ descriptions of Papallacta Ordinario and Cosanga Pulida, in different ways, resemble this type to a certain extent. When the surface is not well preserved it may be hard to distinguish from Bermejo, except that the paste is not as coarse, the temper particles are smaller, and the walls tend to be thinner. If the surface is well preserved, the polished and dark surface are distinctive when compared to Bermejo. It follows Bermejo in some of the most straightforward stratigraphic sequences, but the assertion that this is a more recent type remains tentative. In many of the excavated tests the two types overlap substantially in occurrence and frequency, or appear intermingled in a way that makes it very hard to determine which one comes first. Nevertheless, Pituro clearly precedes Cosanga.

Surface: Well polished and shiny, it feels very soft to the touch. This generally appears to be the result of the application of a thin, hard and resistant slip that was polished and whose color is darker than the paste. The appearance can be very even or crackled. It can be flaked with a knife, exposing a less smooth surface. Sometimes the surface has the same color as the paste and does not appear to have a slip even though it is very well polished. The color is almost invariably dark, dark brown or even black, and occasionally dark orange (although it is sometimes lighter on the inside, light brown or orange). Small micaceous particles are visible on the surface, and red or purple paint is sporadically seen.

Paste: Compact, of medium texture and hardness, with many visible small temper particles. The color varies from dark gray to dark brown or orange, generally consistent or only slightly oxidized towards one of the surfaces.

Temper: Many small particles are visible. On a dark paste, most visible are white, which measure less than 1 mm. Gray, black, red and vitreous looking particles (which appear to be crushed obsidian) are also common. Occasionally the particles can be as large as 3 mm, but for the most part they are smaller.

Walls: Commonly between 3 and 6 mm.

Rims: Direct bowl rims (Illustration) are the most common, followed by everted pot rims.

Decoration: Series of incised bands a few millimeters wide. Sharp and deep incised narrow horizontal lines on an applied band on the body of bowls are less common.

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