Abstract
Copper occupied an important place in the technological and symbolic worlds of precolonial Ecuador, yet systematic studies of its production and circulation have been limited. This paper presents the results of a large-scale compositional study of copper artifacts from across the country, based on portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF) analyses of more than 1,500 objects dating between 600 BCE and 1530 CE. This dataset encompasses 14 cultural groups, allowing preliminary comparisons of alloy choices across time, region, and artifact type. Results identify seven major alloy types—including pure copper, Cu-As, Cu-Ag, and Cu-Au—whose use shifted markedly between coastal and highland traditions. Coastal societies favored pure copper and silver alloys, while highland groups employed arsenical and gold alloys, reflecting diverse technological choices and symbolic values. The predominance of ornaments in the assemblage underscores copper’s primary role in social display, ritual practice, and identity-making rather than utilitarian use. By documenting the compositional diversity of copper artifacts and situating them within broader cultural trajectories, this study highlights Ecuador as a dynamic center of metallurgical consumption and exchange.