The Little Face...

During the 90`s on several occasions we visited the little town of Chañarmuyo in the arid north-central province of La Rioja, Argentina. There, during several archaeological campaigns led by our great Don Nicholas, we toured much of the country, never ceasing to be surprised, not only by the archaeological wealth that we unraveled day by day, but by the human wealth that we discovered. One was Mrs. Zulma Castro, a farmer, a mother, and luckily a friend to us. During long nights spent sitting and talking around the fire, she told us about various places where guys were looking for “tiestos” and “ollitas”. Like many other places that were later revealed to us, we visited, and it was in one of these places we saw and photographed, what I can only call “the face” emerging from the cliffside.

Within the regional archaeological literature, in technical terms, this would be “the face” of an anthropomorphic ceramic figurine, possibly 8 to 10 cm long. Achieved by the process of ceramic under oxidizing firing, which is assigned within the chronology of the NOA (Argentine North-West) by Middle Period or Regional Integration (600 AD - 1.000 AD), to the culture known as "La Aguada";. The expectant look of "the face" represents those who have supported us, advised us, taken care of us and above all taught us to walk through life. Our humble tribute is to them.