Archaeometric Methods, Archaeological Applications, I & II
Poster Session
for the 2007 Annual Meeting of the Society for American Archaeology
Sponsored by:
The Society for Archaeological Sciences
and
The Archaeometry Laboratory, University of Missouri Research Reactor
Session Organizers:
Matthew Boulanger
Leslie Cecil
Rachel Popelka-Filcoff
Archaeometry, the application of scientific techniques to archaeological questions, is not a new field of study. Indeed, archaeologists have used physical, chemical, and geological methods to study cultural material since the 1700s. In today’s world however, archaeometry is increasingly seen as a discipline in its own right. In addition to having its own group of specialists and professional journals, archaeometry has its own ever-growing vocabulary. Traditional dirt archaeologists who dare to look into the laboratory window are confronted with a dizzying array of cryptic acronyms and jargon. Unable to understand the subtle differences between techniques, archaeologists are hesitant to explore how they may address archaeological questions.
Increased communication and understanding between the archaeologist and the materials analyst is fundamental to mutual benefit. In an attempt to facilitate this communication between laboratory specialists and archaeologists, cultural resource managers, and tribal governments, this session will focus on down-to-earth explanations of methods and how they can be used to address real-world archaeological problems. Case studies will be selected to showcase a variety of methods, materials, and geographic areas. Special focus will be given to studies that demonstrate how analytical techniques can provide data to answer specific questions in research, CRM, and public archaeologies.
Session I: Thursday, April 26, 2006, 1:00 P.M. - 5:00 P.M.
Session II: Thursday, April 26, 2006, 6:00 P.M. - 9:00 P.M.
Session I
A Re-evaluation of Neutron Activation Analysis for the Chemical Characterization of Cherts in Western Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Ohio
B. Chiarulli
Department of Anthropology, Indiana University of Pennsylvania
As is the case with most of North America, prehistoric societies in western used a variety of lithic raw material types for artifact manufacture.
Currently, archaeologists visually identify the geological origin of cherts using color and texture as the principal criteria. However, because of the wide range of color variation within a chert source, artifacts identified as coming from several locations may be from a single quarry and artifacts from several sources may be visually indistinguishable. A different approach has been to use Neutron Activation Analysis. The initial results of a recent investigation by the author and several colleagues identified several problems with the use of NAA, but suggested that it has potential to increase our understanding of the characteristics of the local cherts. This paper presents a re-appraisal of the results of that study.
Dirt Cheap Dirt Science: Simple and Inexpensive Soil Analyses for Archaeological Resource Managers
Z. Darley and E. C. Wells
Department of Anthropology, University of South Florida, Tampa
About the only thing more abundant at an archaeological site than pots and rocks is dirt. Yet, archaeologists often do not realize the full interpretive potential of soil science. Using a series of case studies, this poster presents a range of simple, inexpensive analyses that can shed light on questions of interest to cultural resource managers. By studying such properties as texture, pH, and phosphates, it is possible to rapidly define site boundaries without relying on artifact distributions, to prospect for activity loci and areas that have a high probability of containing subsurface deposits, and to obtain supporting evidence for NRHP nominations
Artifact Size Bias in Obsidian Chemical Characterization Studies: New Data for an Old Problem
J. Ferguson
Sampling strategies for obsidian chemical characterization studies are typically biased by the size restrictions of the analytical equipment. The most commonly used method for obsidian, XRF, is currently incapable of accurately analyzing the smaller debitage (that other methods can characterize) typically recovered from archaeological sites. By selecting only artifacts large enough for accurate analysis researchers bias their chemical source distribution toward reduction activities involving large source material, typically locally-procured raw material. In this study, we reanalyze the previously-reported data sets from Oregon and California in light of new chemical and metric data from a site near Owens Lake, California.
Electron Microprobe Analysis in 21st-Century Archaeology: Its Strengths, Its Weaknesses, and the Advancements Useful to Archaeologists
E. Frahm
Departments of Anthropology and Geology & Geophysics, University of Minnesota–Twin Cities
Electron microprobe analysis (EMPA), also called electron probe microanalysis, is an analytical technique used to establish the chemical composition of small areas on specimens. Additionally, the instrument can function much like a scanning electron microscope
(SEM) and acquire highly magnified images of a specimen. EMPA is quite versatile and a dominant analytical technique in geology. The technique was developed in the 1940s and 1950s, and soon archaeologists were considering its usefulness. Early archaeological applications involved analyses of layered materials (paint, glaze, metal surface alteration) and mixtures (identifying particles in metals, ceramics, glasses). Such studies recognized EMPA is particularly well suited to heterogeneous materials. This detail, though, has been overlooked in some recent archaeological descriptions of EMPA, creating confusion about its strengths. Other techniques have recently become more popular in archaeology, and EMPA is sometimes considered “old news.” Just as a 1960s television differs greatly from the latest high-definition model, contemporary instruments make EMPA more useful to archaeologists than ever before. Archaeological examples, including geological materials like obsidian and human-made materials like ceramics, show the advantages and strengths of EMPA. Also discussed is how the latest advancements in digital imaging and instrument design can be advantageous in archaeological research. [DOWNLOAD PDF]
A Comprehensive Database for Obsidian Sources in Western Mexico
M. D. Glascock, R. J. Speakman, P. C. Weigand¹, M. A. Ohnersorgen², and M. Garduño Ambriz³
¹ Colegio de Michoacan, Zamora, Michoacán, Mexico
² Department of Anthropology, University of Missouri–St. Louis
³ Instituto Nacional de Antropologia e Historia, Nayarit, Mexico
Like other regions of the world, the prehistoric peoples of Western Mexico showed a preference for obsidian to make their stone tools. Despite the large number of obsidian sources in the region, the quality of source material was variable and it appears that certain sources of obsidian were favored. The success of chemical analysis as a method for determining obsidian provenance is widely known. The main requirement is knowledge of the compositional profiles for sources. We describe our progress in developing a comprehensive database for obsidian sources in Western Mexico using both neutron activation analysis and X-ray fluorescence.
Obsidian Source Provenance Studies in the Hohokam Core: New Perspectives from the Middle Gila River, South-Central Arizona
C. Loendorf¹, J. A. Darling¹, and M. S. Shackley²
¹Cultural Resource Management Program, Gila River Indian Community
²Department of Anthropology, University of California–Berkeley
Obsidian source provenance studies are a staple of archaeometric endeavors and have been a major contributor to anthropological statements about source utilization and raw material distribution. Recent x-ray fluorescence (XRF) analyses of obsidian artifacts from sites in the Gila River Indian Community have amassed one of the largest trace-element obsidian artifact databases for the region. Provenance expectations based on regional studies are evaluated against findings from excavated sites in the west end (Estrella Mountain foothills) and east-central (Santan) areas of the reservation. Results demonstrate the advantages of large datasets and the comparative potential of regional and excavation-based research methodologies. [DOWNLOAD PDF]
Developments in Instrumental Multi-Elemental Analysis for Ochre Geochemistry
R. S. Popelka-Filcoff, M. D. Glascock, and J. D. Robertson
Iron oxides and other associated minerals (ochre) were widely used during ancient times. However, geochemical data and archaeological provenance information on ochre are not well documented. This paper presents analytical data from instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) and x-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF) that indicate geochemical trends in archaeological ochre. Ochre was sampled thoroughly from both geological sources and artifacts in order to understand the elemental variation and associations in ochre. This poster presents a compositional ochre database from several sites, sources and locations as well as a multivariate statistical analysis. Conclusions about trends in ochre geochemistry, statistical methods for ochre and ochre composition are presented. [DOWNLOAD PDF]
Recent Obsidian Analyses in Alaska
J. Reuther, R. J. Speakman, P. M. Bowers, M. D. Glascock, and B. A. Potter
This research presents new data from obsidian analyses conducted on artifacts recovered from a variety of archaeological contexts throughout the state of Alaska. In addition, we synthesize information regarding our current knowledge on the location and trace element variation of Alaskan obsidian sources. We explore patterns between source usage and site type and potential relationships between sites such as differential access to sources or long distance movement of raw material via exchange or mobility.
The Trace Element Chemistry of Virginia Jasper Sources
C. Stevenson¹ and M. T. Boulanger
¹Virginia Department of Historic Resources
Virginia jasper sources exploited in prehistory consisted of in situ primary deposits as well as terrain sources located in ancient stream channels of the Potomac and Susquehanna Rivers. A comprehensive base line for regional provenance studies requires that the full range of jasper source types be fully characterized and instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) has been performed on 101 samples. The study includes geological samples from five localities and artifacts from six different archaeological sites. The source data were examined to identify elemental differences that could be used to differentiate between individual sources. Assignments of the artifacts to geological sources were successfully made for 80% of the archaeological samples. [DOWNLOAD PDF]
Stable Isotope Analysis and Ancient Diets: They Are What They Ate
R. H. Tykot
Department of Anthropology, University of South Florida
Author's Web page
Stable, carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen isotope studies have become widely applied to studies of ancient subsistence patterns, providing complementary information to faunal, paleobotanical and other dietary indicators. Using small samples of bone, teeth, and/or hair for this inexpensive analysis, the study of many individuals has often revealed dietary differences based on age, sex, status, and other sociocultural factors; local ecology; seasonal variation; and chronological change. Presented here is an overview of sampling and analysis methods; examples of studies on maize in the New World, millet in the Old World, and the importance of seafood; and suggestions for future research. [DOWNLOAD PDF]
Session II
The Use of Forensic Photography Techniques in Archaeology
C. Baldia and M. O. Baldia
Forensic photography of archaeological perishable materials should be regarded an essential pre-test before any destructive analytical methods are applied.
Non-destructive forensic photographic methods were appliedto Hopewellian textiles from Seip Mound in southern Ohio. The methods were used to detect components of differing chemistry on the textiles that are indicative of colorants even if these are no longer visible to the unaided eye. Using these techniquesfacilitated selective and purposive micro-sampling for further analysis that maximizes critical data acquisition while minimizing destruction of the artefact.
Petrographic and Geochemical Analyses of Copper Age Pottery from Central Europe
M. Boulanger and M. D. Glascock
Ceramic classification in Central Europe, particularly of the Copper Age, is traditionally based on vessel form and decoration. Vessel morphologies are seen as index fossils correlated to culture areas. Though useful in some contexts, this typo-chronology has resulted in confusion over an array of archaeological cultures that overlap in space and time. Petrographic and geochemical analyses of Copper Age pottery are used to refine ceramic classifications and identify technological aspects of pottery manufacture. The combination of multiple approaches to ceramic analysis produces a more holistic understanding of Copper Age Europe and allows archaeologists to explore previously unexamined research questions. [DOWNLOAD PDF]
Do Form Measurements Have A Place in Archaeometry? Conjoining Diversity Indices with Chemical Analysis of Pottery from Petén, Guatemala
L. G. Cecil and M. D. Glascock
Archaeometric analyses of pottery manufacture and exchange typically focus on the composition of sherd pastes. While this focus is essential for understanding provenance and exchange patterns, it cannot always address the more socioeconomic concerns of variation within ceramic traditions and degree of quality control during the manufacturing process. Variation within ceramic traditions also can be interpreted through diversity indices that include rim diameter and wall height measurements. This study demonstrates the value of combining descriptive information (form measurements) with trace chemical data to better understand the changes in Postclassic pottery manufacture (Early vs. Late) and the corresponding socioeconomic milieu. [DOWNLOAD PDF]
Metallography of Native Copper Artifacts: Description and Interpretation
Provenance Research in the Middle Gila River Valley Using Laser Ablation-Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS)
J. A. Darling¹, H. Neff², B. S. Eiselt³, and L. Newman¹
¹ Cultural Resource Management Program, Gila River Indian Community
² Institute for Integrated Research in Materials, Environments, and Societies, California State University–Long Beach
³ Department of Anthropology, Southern Methodist University
Chemical-based provenance research is new to Hohokam ceramic studies, which have long been dominated by petrographic techniques. One of the challenges of the petrographic approach is our inability to characterize mica schist-tempered pottery and assign it to source. A second involves the effects of raw clay selection on provenance assignments. Recent research in the Gila River Indian Community utilizes oral history and consultation with Native potters to refine source sampling and interpret trace element patterns using LA-ICP-MS. The study is unique for its location and for its potential contribution as an adjunct to long-standing, labor intensive petrographic analyses. [DOWNLOAD PDF]
Social identities of an elite metallurgist from San José de Moro
An Assessment of Archaeomagnetic Contemporaneity
S. Lengyel¹ and R. Sternberg²
¹ Archaeomagnetic Research Program, Statistical Research, Inc., Tucson, AZ
² Department of Geosciences, Franklin & Marshall College, Lancaster, PA
Typically, archaeomagnetic (AM) data are used to obtain calendar dates for specific archaeological features; however, these data may be useful for assessing the relative contemporaneity of archaeological features as well. For many archaeological questions, the ability to test the potential contemporaneity of features can be more powerful than the acquisition of calendar dates. However, the nature of the statistical methods used to test this assumption (where contemporaneity is the null hypothesis) makes it difficult to quantify the potential time span represented by pairs of archaeomagnetically-contemporary features. This study represents a preliminary attempt to assess the practical limits of AM contemporaneity studies and to provide a means to quantify the error associated with these relationships. Three data sets are employed, including modern AM data, historical-aged AM data, and prehistoric AM data. [DOWNLOAD PDF]
Ceramic Petrography for the Masses: Ethnicity, Interaction Models, and "Iroquoian" Pottery
J. Pretola
Bay Path College, Long Meadow, MA
Ceramic petrography is the examination of pottery in thin section using polarized light. Although not a new method, when combined with new realizations that stylistic behavior can also be found in technological attributes, ceramic petrography becomes useful to study trade, migration, ethnicity, and other forms of group behavior. Here, I apply ceramic petrography to the problem of AIroquoian@ pottery in the non-Iroquois regions of eastern New York and southern New England. My findings show there are clear distinctions between Iroquois and Algonquian pottery, and that it is imperative that archaeologists develop new interaction models for these two peoples.
Pottery Production and Distribution in the Mimbres and Jornada Regions of the American Southwest
R. J. Speakman, D. Creel, M. Miller, L. Reed, and M. D. Glascock
Understanding and Minimizing Sources of Error in Radiocarbon Dating
The University of Tennessee Center for Archaeometry and Geochronology
The conventional radiocarbon dating method has been used by archaeologists for more than 50 years. It is the primary means of establishing the necessary chronological framework for creating hypotheses and interpreting archaeological assemblages. Although most archaeologists have submitted samples for dating, the dates they receive must be viewed within the confines of certain methodological limitations. There are several sources of uncertainties when calculating dates from archaeological samples. The primary uncertainties encountered in the laboratory consist of systematic and random errors. The laboratory protocols minimize the effects of these uncertainties but, in some cases of systematic error, they cannot be eliminated or even recognized. The error reported with radiocarbon dates attempts to take into account these uncertainties. The archaeologist, however, can assist the laboratory in minimizing error by choosing the best possible samples for dating. We present some of the sources of error in an effort to assist the archaeologist, both in the field and during interpretation of radiocarbon dating results. [DOWNLOAD PDF]