Taken with a Grain of Salt: Experimentation and the Chemistry of Archaeological Ceramics from Xaltocan, Mexico

Stoner, Wesley D.; Millhauser, John K.; Rodríguez-Alegría, Enrique; Overholtzer, Lisa; Glascock, Michael D.

doi:10.1007/s10816-013-9179-2

Cited by 16 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 54 publications

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“…Presence of NaCl and Na 2 CO 3 in tequesquite samples agrees with incomplete composition reported previously (Garritz-Ruiz & Chamizo, 1989;Stoner, Millhauser, Rodríguez-Alegría, Overholtzer & Glascock, 2013) and explains (at least partially) the reason for its culinary use in Mexico. As is shown in tables 1 and 2, no toxic elements were detected that could question culinary use of this saline complex.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 89%

Detailed chemical composition of tequesquite, a pre-Hispanic and traditional mineral resource used in Mexico for culinary purposes

Flores-Hernández

Martínez‐Jerónimo

2016

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Tequesquite is an alkaline mineral complex used in Mexico with culinary purposes since pre-Hispanic times. It is produced through evaporation and crystallization of remnant former Lake Texcoco brackish waters. Despite pre-Hispanic background use of this mineral complex, it was only until the first half of the XX century that analyses were performed to determine its gross chemical composition. However, more detailed information is unavailable in spite of recent technological advances in analytical procedures. In this study samples from different sources were obtained and analyzed to obtain more information about its chemical and elemental composition and to determine possible variations in their composition. Scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDXRA) and X-ray (XRD) diffraction were employed to determine composition of raw and depurated samples (in which clays and sands were removed through solubilization in deionized water). SiO 2 , NaCl, Na 2 CO 3 , and trona were identified in raw samples, whereas NaCl, trona, K 2 SO 4 , and KCl were detected in samples free of insoluble material. SEM images showed diverse crystal morphology types with different elemental composition, whereas XRD patterns revealed that tequesquite depicts the same diversity of chemical species despite different origin. Presence of toxic compounds was discarded, thus confirming its safe use for human consumption. This is the first report of detailed composition of an ancient mineral resource mainly used for culinary purposes that could be of potential use in other applications (e. gr. Spirulina cultivation). RESUMENEl tequesquite es un complejo mineral alcalino usado en México desde tiempos prehispáni-cos para la preparación de alimentos. Se produce a través de la evaporación y cristalización de las aguas salobres y alcalinas del lecho del antiguo Lago de Texcoco. No obstante los antecedentes históricos de uso de este recurso mineral, no fue sino hasta la primera mitad del siglo XX cuando se realizaron análisis químicos para determinar su composición general. En la actualidad, su composición detallada es desconocida pese a que se dispone de recursos analíticos muy avanzados. En el presente estudio se obtuvieron y analizaron muestras de tequesquite en diferentes localidades, a fin de establecer su composición elemental, así como las posibles variaciones. Para esto, se usó microcopía electrónica de barrido con espectroscopia de rayos X de energía dispersiva (SEM-EDXRA, por sus siglas en inglés) y difracción de rayos X (XRD) para analizar muestras brutas y depuradas (en estas últimas se eliminaron arcillas y arena mediante solubilización en agua desionizada). En las muestras sin procesar se identificaron SiO 2 , NaCl, Na 2 CO 3 y trona, mientras que en las muestras libres de material insoluble se detectaron NaCl, trona, K 2 SO 4 y KCl. Las imágenes de SEM mostraron diferentes tipos de morfología cristalina con distinta composición elemental, mientras que los patrones XRD demuestran que el tequesquite...

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 89%

Detailed chemical composition of tequesquite, a pre-Hispanic and traditional mineral resource used in Mexico for culinary purposes

Flores-Hernández

Martínez‐Jerónimo

2016

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“…Compositional analyses of ceramic artifacts from the Basin of Mexico have continued since the completion of these pioneering studies, and at present the database of the Archaeometry Laboratory at the University of Missouri Research Reactor (MURR) contains compositional data for almost 6,000 artifacts, clay sources, and tempering agents from the region. Compositional reference groups used for comparisons in this study are thus based on prior studies (Neff and Glascock 2000;Neff et al 2000;Nichols et al 2002;Stoner et al 2014), and are described in detail by Nichols et al (2002) and Stoner et al (2014).…”

Section: Compositional Analyses In the Basin Of Mexicomentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Households in Xaltocan processed and exchanged goods derived from the surrounding lake in nearby markets (De Lucia 2013; Gibson 1964:336, 342), and also obtained items, including pottery and obsidian, through exchange (Brumfiel 2005b; Hodge and Neff 2005). Previous studies using neutron activation analysis (NAA) have demonstrated that Xaltocan produced both plain and decorated pottery (Nichols et al 2002; Stoner et al 2014); however, evidence of pottery manufacture in Xaltocan has not previously been identified despite extensive survey and excavation. Household-based pottery production is often difficult to document because it was small in scale and evidence for manufacture may not be visible in surface remains, especially at sites with deeply stratified deposits.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Small-Scale Household Ceramic Production: Neutron Activation Analysis of Plain and Decorated Ceramics From Pre-Aztec Xaltocan, Mexico

2020

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This study examines small-scale household ceramic production at the site of Xaltocan, Mexico, to understand the organization of household ceramic production prior to the development of the Aztec Empire. We examine utilitarian vessels and serving wares from an Early Postclassic (a.d. 900–1200) domestic context using neutron activation analysis (NAA). We also examine archaeological evidence for ceramic manufacture. The NAA data reveal that similar raw materials and paste recipes were used for both utilitarian and decorated wares, suggesting that households produced both plain and decorated pottery. We conclude that ceramic production was an intermittent activity that took place alongside other crafts and agriculture. By looking at ceramics within their contexts of use and production, we consider the practices and choices made by individual social units, which is crucial to interpreting broader Early Postclassic economic systems and the ways in which commoners influenced these systems.

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“…Over the last few years, examining ceramic artifacts through geochemical analysis has become an increasingly common approach (Ashley et al, 2015;Castanzo, 2014;De La Fuente et al, 2015;Falabella et al, 2013;Glowacki et al, 2015;Grave et al, 2014;Minc et al, 2014;Nunes et al, 2013;Ownby et al, 2014;Peterson, 2015;Rodríguez-Alegría et al, 2013;Sharratt et al, 2015;Stoner et al, 2015Stoner et al, , 2014. However, the increasing popularity of "sourcing" ceramic artifacts has not diminished some inherent concerns about the results, especially when compared to the more traditional analysis of obsidian (Eerkens et al, 2002;Neff, 2000).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The compositional analysis of hunter-gatherer pottery from the Kuril Islands

Gjesfjeld

2018

Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports

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Archaeological analysis of pottery remains from Northeast Asia has traditionally emphasized macroscopic traits such as decoration and vessel form. While these features are important in characterizing the cultural affiliation of pottery, compositional analysis can provide new lines of evidence that highlight social processes such as migration and exchange. Using a ceramic assemblage recovered from the Kuril Islands of Northeast Asia, this research investigates the regional exchange of pottery associated with the Epi-Jomon and Okhotsk cultural traditions. Results of this study indicate cultural differences highly influence the geographic distribution of compositional groups and patterns of regional exchange. Keywords archaeometry, pottery, Kuril Islands, exchange networks, maritime hunter-gatherers Highlights • The first compositional analysis of hunter-gatherer pottery from the Kuril Islands of Northeast Asia • Epi-Jomon and Okhotsk occupations demonstrate compositional macrogroups with different geographic distributions • Compositional analysis indicates limited exchange or movement of Epi-Jomon pottery between regions of the Kuril Islands

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Taken with a Grain of Salt: Experimentation and the Chemistry of Archaeological Ceramics from Xaltocan, Mexico

Cited by 16 publications

References 54 publications

Detailed chemical composition of tequesquite, a pre-Hispanic and traditional mineral resource used in Mexico for culinary purposes

Detailed chemical composition of tequesquite, a pre-Hispanic and traditional mineral resource used in Mexico for culinary purposes

Small-Scale Household Ceramic Production: Neutron Activation Analysis of Plain and Decorated Ceramics From Pre-Aztec Xaltocan, Mexico

The compositional analysis of hunter-gatherer pottery from the Kuril Islands

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