Effort and Value: The Production Practices of Pre-Columbian Gold Objects of Costa Rica in Cultural and Technological Context

Abstract We investigated selected pre-Columbian Costa Rican metal objects by digital microscopy and portable XRF to reconstruct their manufacturing technique and technological choices. Lost-wax casting was confirmed as the production technique of the investigated (semi-)plastic objects. All decorations, of which some were produced with elaborate filigree, were worked into the wax model. Sheet metal objects were cast and/or cold-worked. Typically, no additions or changes were made after casting. Discs were often crudely pierced, sometimes even not respecting the decoration pattern. The different geometric shapes of the piercings match a set of investigated metal tools. Overall, a great deal of effort and skill was devoted to the manufacture of the wax model, while less attention was paid to casting and subsequent refinement steps. It is obvious that the various stages of production were treated separately. They were either the result of differences in specialised skills or of ritual or economic significance.