Were metal tweezers exclusively used as hair removers in the Central Andes?

Vetter-Parodi L.; Barraza-Lescano S. · Estudios Atacamenos (2024) · DOI: 10.22199/issn.0718-1043-2024-0001

Resumen

In the central Andean territory, tweezers have been made from metals since the Early Horizon period (800-200 B.C.). In pre-Hispanic funerary contexts, they are usually associated with males and were long thought to be used mainly for hair removal since that is how they appear in colonial written and iconographic sources and on pre-Hispanic ceramics. However, significant evidence allows us to verify multiple uses. This article reviews cases reported in the archaeological bibliography and museum records where tweezers are connected to several functions, including textiles, fishing, facial cleansing and, possibly, pre-Hispanic metallurgy. Likewise, we present ethnographic data and primary sources on tweezer use. This data contributes to understanding their various functions and meanings. © (2023), (Universidad Catolica del Norte). All Rights Reserved.

Instituciones: Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú