Sourcing ceramics with portable XRF spectrometers? A comparison with INAA using Mimbres pottery from the American Southwest

Speakman, Robert J.; Little, Nicole C.; Creel, Darrell; Miller, Myles R.; Iñañez, Javier Garcia

doi:10.1016/j.jas.2011.08.011

Cited by 158 publications

(72 citation statements)

References 32 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…While these advantages are attractive to researchers, it is important to note that non-destructively analyzing ceramic surfaces has a technical disadvantage compared to homogenized powder samples. However, a number of non-destructive ceramic studies have been performed taking into account the heterogeneous nature of clay types, surface treatment and decoration such as the application of slip or paint and temper added (Hunt, Speakman 2015;Speakman et al 2011;Tykot 2016;Tykot et al 2013). These studies provide examples in how to address the issue of heterogeneity in non-destructively analyzing only ceramic surfaces.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Trace Elemental Characterization of Maltese Pottery from the Late Neolithic to Middle Bronze Age

Pirone

Tykot

2017

Open Archaeology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abstract:The aim of this research was to determine the provenance of Maltese ceramics and to determine the role pottery played in Maltese prehistoric trade and interaction networks. This study involved 236 Maltese ceramic samples, 19 geological clay samples from Ġnejna Bay & Selmun along with 18 ceramic samples from Ognina, Sicily, and four Sicilian clay samples from the outskirts of Siracusa that were nondestructively analyzed using a portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF) spectrometer in order to determine their trace elemental compositions (Th, Rb, Sr, Y, Zr and Nb). The results of this analysis were statistically analyzed using principal component analysis in order to ascertain relationships in the chemical compositions among the samples. The results of this analysis indicate that the majority of all the Maltese ceramic samples have a local Maltese provenance and that pottery played a more significant role in defining the nature of Malta's trade relationships during the Bronze Age. The following study has provided new insights into Malta's role in trade and interaction networks from the late Neolithic to the Bronze Age and has allowed for new ideas in explaining the cultural change observed from the Temple Period to the Bronze Age.

show abstract

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Trace Elemental Characterization of Maltese Pottery from the Late Neolithic to Middle Bronze Age

Pirone

Tykot

2017

Open Archaeology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…While these advantages are attractive to researchers, it is important to note that non-destructively analyzing ceramic surfaces has a technical disadvantage compared to homogenized powder samples. However, a number of non-destructive ceramic studies have been performed taking into account the heterogeneous nature of clay types, surface treatment such as the application of slip or paint, decoration and temper added (Speakman et al 2011;McCormick 2013;Tykot et al 2013;Ashkanani & Tykot 2013;Stremtan et al 2014;Hunt & Speakman 2015). These studies provide examples in how to address the issue of heterogeneity in non-destructively analyzing only ceramic surfaces.…”

Section: Pxrf or Xrf That Is The Question?mentioning

confidence: 99%

Provenance Study of Prehistoric Ceramics from Sicily: A Comparative Study between pXRF and XRF

et al. 2017

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abstract:The 1964 archaeological exploration of the Ognina islet near Syracuse, Sicily, has provided evidence suggesting a long-term prehistoric occupation from the Neolithic to the Middle Bronze Age. Maltese style ceramics were found in Early and Middle Bronze Age layers. A small group of imports belonging to the Thermi Ware culture was found in connection with the local Castelluccian Ware (EBA), and Maltese style Borġ in-Nadur wares were recovered with local Thapsos ceramics (MBA). During fieldwork in 2012, large amounts of ceramics were recovered including new examples of Thermi and Borġ in-Nadur wares as well as large amounts of Castelluccian and Thapsos pottery. In order to ascertain whether the Maltese type pottery was imported from Malta, a program of archaeometric analyses was established. Diagnostic samples belonging to both Maltese-like and Sicilian pottery classes were analyzed with destructive thin sectioning and X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF) and subsequently analyzed with non-destructive portable X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (pXRF) together with a sample of Sicilian clay taken from a clay source close to the islet. The analyses demonstrated that the two Thermi Ware samples were locally produced and three out of four Borġ in-Nadur pieces had a Maltese provenance while one of the four being produced in Sicily.

show abstract

“…Concerning the controversy over increased specialization and segmentation in archaeological practice [18,[21][22][23][24][25]] the portability of HHpXRF has role to play that encourages bringing together scientific practice and archaeology. Investigation, analysis and interpretation need to be synchronized in the field and with common research objectives.…”

Section: The Awkward Adolescence Of Hhpxrfmentioning

confidence: 99%

Characterization of pre-Columbian artefacts in situ through handheld portable X-ray fluorescence spectrometry: the case of ceramics from the Mochica site of San José de Moro (Peru)

et al. 2016

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abstract:The famous archaeological site of San José de Moro (SJM) located in the Jequetepeque Valley (JV) represents one of the best-preserved pre-Columbian Mochica cemeteries uncovered along the north coast of Peru. SJM was a regional ritual centre where elites and the general population of all JV met to celebrate ceremonial events. Its role as a place of regional integration and coordination continued long after the disappearance of the Mochica and SJM was continuously occupied throughout the Late Mochica Period (8th-9th c. AD) and into the Transitional Period (9th-10th c. AD). Even though the abandonment of Mochica traditions in SJM (funerary practices and ceramic styles) appears quite rapid, SJM was constantly occupied whereby local traditions were being reshaped. During this time various styles of ritual ceramics from different traditions (Mochica, Cajamarca and Wari) were buried within ceremonial and funerary contexts. This research involves archaeometric studies of excavated painted diagnostic ceramic sherds representing four distinctive pre-Columbian typologies present at this site-Mochica fineline bichrome, Mochica fineline polychrome, coastal Cajamarca and Highland Cajamarca ceramics. For this study handheld portable X-ray fluorescence spectrometer (HHpXRF) instrumentation was operated in situ in order to (1) perform non-destructive trace element analysis (2) to assess if Cajamarca ceramics were further elaborated using the same raw materials employed by the Mochica potters of SJM, and (3) to establish whether or not Mochica and Cajamarca ceramics were truly technological markers in the lower part of the Jequetepeque valley.

show abstract

Sourcing ceramics with portable XRF spectrometers? A comparison with INAA using Mimbres pottery from the American Southwest

Cited by 158 publications

References 32 publications

Trace Elemental Characterization of Maltese Pottery from the Late Neolithic to Middle Bronze Age

Trace Elemental Characterization of Maltese Pottery from the Late Neolithic to Middle Bronze Age

Provenance Study of Prehistoric Ceramics from Sicily: A Comparative Study between pXRF and XRF

Characterization of pre-Columbian artefacts in situ through handheld portable X-ray fluorescence spectrometry: the case of ceramics from the Mochica site of San José de Moro (Peru)

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About