Assessing the applicability of portable X-ray fluorescence spectrometry for obsidian provenance research in the Maya lowlands

Nazaroff, Adam Joseph; Prufer, Keith M.; Drake, Lee

doi:10.1016/j.jas.2009.11.019

Cited by 127 publications

(90 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…The use of portable XRF in pigment analysis is becoming increasingly widespread in the analysis of archaeological materials including lithics, ceramics, glass, metallurgy and pigments obsidian (Barker et al, 2015;Craig et al, 2007;Jia et al, 2010;Nazaroff et al, 2010), lithics (Williams-Thorpe et al, 1999; Jones, G.…”

Section: Portable X-ray Fluorescencementioning

confidence: 99%

Emigdiano Blues: The California Indigenous Pigment Palette and an In Situ Analysis of an Exotic Colour

2018

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Abstract:The Native inhabitants of South Central California produced rock art containing red, orange, black, white, green and blue colours using a range of mineral and organic materials. Many of these same colours were used on material culture and body painting. This paper focuses on a sub-group of the Chumash, called the Emigdiano, who produced an enigmatic blue colour used in the creation of rock art. Here, we focus on the blue pigment at the rock shelter site of Three Springs in the Wind Wolves Preserve in South Central California. The composition of blue pigments has previously been the focus of discussion with suggestions that they were produced either using European pigments taken from Spanish missions, or that azurite from a local quarry was the source. Previous experimental work had demonstrated that it was possible for the blue to be produced from locally available azurite. Here we present the in situ analyses of these enigmatic blue pigments using handheld X-ray Fluorescence (pXRF). Results from pXRF analysis of rock art, quarried azurite samples and experimental rock art reconstructions showed that the Emigdiano Blue at Three Springs were not azurite based and was composed of optical blue (a mixture of black and white or grey materials which mimic the appearance of blue). This paper discusses the surprising implications of the use, given the availability of a 'true' blue pigment, and the wider ontological importance of combining multiple colours to produce the effect of blue in a rock art panel.

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Section: Portable X-ray Fluorescencementioning

confidence: 99%

Emigdiano Blues: The California Indigenous Pigment Palette and an In Situ Analysis of an Exotic Colour

2018

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“…ED-XRF has a long history of use in archaeology and in the form of portable X-ray fluorescence analysis (pXRF) has been widely used in obsidian sourcing studies in recent years (Craig et al 2007;Phillips and Speakman 2009;Nazaroff et al 2010;Sheppard et al 2010;Millhauser et al 2011). It has been demonstrated that the method is capable of distinguishing between the major obsidian sources in the Middle East (Forster et al 2011;Frahm 2013;Milić 2014;Frahm 2014a and2014b).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Multiple sources: The pXRF analysis of obsidian from Kenan Tepe, S.E. Turkey

Campbell

Healey

2016

Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports

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Obsidian is often seen as a proxy for exchange and networking even though the relationship between these elements can be somewhat indirect. Nevertheless, recent studies which involve the provenance analysis of a large number of artefacts from a single site have opened up a number of avenues which are simply not visible when only a small number of artefacts can be provenanced. In this paper, after evaluating the efficacy of our pXRF protocol for the provenancing of large numbers of obsidian artefacts, we go on to use the data set we generated from Kenan Tepe, in SE Turkey, to discuss the wide range of sources present including the hitherto poorly understood Group 3d. Our integrated study of the techno-morphological and contextual aspects of the artefacts alongside the provenance analysis also allows us to track the use of obsidian through time and to profile the use of individual sources. HighlightsAttribution of 882 obsidian artefacts from late prehistoric/early historic Kenan Tepe, south east Turkey to their geological sources. Analysis of change through time in the use of obsidian sources at a single site. Importance of contextual analysis of obsidian use.The first large scale occurrence of the unlocated Group 3d obsidian.

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“…98 A limited number of obsidian studies utilizing mobile and in some cases handheld XRF have been reported. [99][100][101][102] All discuss the feasibility of mobile instrumentation compared to traditional laboratory-based XRF and alternative techniques such as instrumental neutron activation analysis for achieving the high accuracy required for obsidian sourcing. Quantitation approaches included linear regression, 101 quadratic regression, 99 fundamental parameters, 100 and corrections utilizing Compton scatter.…”

Section: Spectroscopic Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Quantitation approaches included linear regression, 101 quadratic regression, 99 fundamental parameters, 100 and corrections utilizing Compton scatter. 102 And while the researchers all concluded that mobile XRF can be successfully used for obsidian sourcing, concerns were noted by some.…”

Section: Spectroscopic Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

Mobile Spectroscopic Instrumentation in Archaeometry Research

Vandenabeele

Donais

2016

Appl Spectrosc

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Mobile instrumentation is of growing importance to archaeometry research. Equipment is utilized in the field or at museums, thus avoiding transportation or risk of damage to valuable artifacts. Many spectroscopic techniques are nondestructive and micro-destructive in nature, which preserves the cultural heritage objects themselves. This review includes over 160 references pertaining to the use of mobile spectroscopy for archaeometry. Following a discussion of terminology related to mobile instrumental methods, results of a literature survey on their applications for cultural heritage objects is presented. Sections devoted to specific techniques are then provided: Raman spectroscopy, X-ray fluorescence spectrometry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy, and less frequently used techniques. The review closes with a discussion of combined instrumental approaches.

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Assessing the applicability of portable X-ray fluorescence spectrometry for obsidian provenance research in the Maya lowlands

Cited by 127 publications

References 24 publications

Emigdiano Blues: The California Indigenous Pigment Palette and an In Situ Analysis of an Exotic Colour

Emigdiano Blues: The California Indigenous Pigment Palette and an In Situ Analysis of an Exotic Colour

Multiple sources: The pXRF analysis of obsidian from Kenan Tepe, S.E. Turkey

Mobile Spectroscopic Instrumentation in Archaeometry Research

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