Experimental Evaluation of Sample‐extraction Methods and the Potential for Contamination in Ceramic Specimens*

Boulanger, Matthew; Fehrenbach, S. S.; Glascock, Michael D.

doi:10.1111/j.1475-4754.2012.00706.x

Cited by 21 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 16 publications

(19 reference statements)

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“…Since the tungsten carbide cell used to mill the ceramics was a potential contaminator, Co and Ta were removed from the statistical procedure. The reason is that Co is a known binder of tungsten alloys and usually occurs along with Ta traces [43]. Furthermore, Sn, Ni, Cu and Zn were also removed, the first because it showed values under the quantification limit and the rest because they showed low repeatability, which could not have been related to any specific alteration, suggesting that an analytical error could have occurred.…”

Section: Icp-ms Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Alterations and Contaminations in Ceramics Deposited in Underwater Environments: An Experimental Approach

2021

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Ancient ceramics recovered after a long burial period have probably undergone several alterations and contaminations, introducing a chemical variability, affecting the ceramic’s natural variability. That is, the chemical and the mineralogical compositions of the ceramic pastes after their deposition will not be the same as they originally were. Therefore, it is known that the alteration and contamination processes, and the discrimination of some elements, should be considered when studying the ceramics to avoid incorrect interpretations about their provenance, technology and the use of the artefact, as well as its proper preservation. In the present work, the authors performed an experimental approach in order to study the alterations and contaminations that occurred in 60 ceramic cylinders buried in two different underwater environments. Once the pieces were taken out from the water environments, they were characterized by a multi-analytical approach. For this purpose, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy–energy dispersive spectrometry (SEM–EDS) and Raman spectroscopy were used. Newly formed minerals of different forms have been identified, with different crystallization grades. Some examples are the needles, flakes, sponges and long and short prisms composed of several elements such as Ca, F, S and O.

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Section: Icp-ms Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Alterations and Contaminations in Ceramics Deposited in Underwater Environments: An Experimental Approach

2021

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“…We also observe no distinct differences between powdered and crushed aliquots. Thus, there appears to be no need to grind the mica into a fine powder—a process that proved exceptionally difficult using hand tools and that may introduce metal contamination if done using a shatterbox or drillbit (e.g., Boulanger et al 2012).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Geochemical Analysis of Mica Source Specimens and Artifacts From the Abbott Farm National Historic Landmark (28me1)

Boulanger

Lattanzi²,

Roush

et al. 2017

Am. Antiq.

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The Abbott Farm National Historic Landmark is one of the more significant Woodland-period sites in the Northeast. Numerous Hopewellian cultural traits (copper artifacts, cremated burials, exotic cherts, and mica) have been identified at the site. Numerous potential geological sources for the mica artifacts exist in the Mid-Atlantic region. We explore two analytical methods to evaluate the most likely geological sources of the mica artifacts. Source and artifact specimens were analyzed using pXRF as well as neutron activation. Our pXRF data are suggestive, but show high analytical uncertainty. We make several recommendations relevant to future attempts that would use this kind of instrument to study sheet mica. Our neutron activation results are promising and suggest that geochemical sourcing of mica has much potential. Results of both assays suggest that most of the artifact specimens recovered from Abbott Farm share a similar chemistry, and this composition is very similar to mica from southeastern Pennsylvania. A cut-and-drilled pendant exhibits a chemical makeup distinctly different from all other artifacts and source specimens evaluated here. Although our results are preliminary, the application of modern analytical methods to extant archaeological collections has the potential to provide significant new information.

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“…Chemical changes due to use are potentially significant for reconstructing past behavior but will also confound sourcing efforts [34]. Sample preparation can cause enrichment of certain elements, particularly if steel components are used [35][36][37]. Other points of significance for interpreting bulk chemical data, but not related to weathering, are processes that produce spatially patterned variation withing the ceramic fabric.…”

Section: Compositional Approaches To Ceramic Production and Exchange ...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Chemical Mapping to Evaluate Post-Depositional Diagenesis among the Earliest Ceramics in the Teotihuacan Valley, Mexico

Stoner

Shaulis

2021

Minerals

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Chemical and mineral sourcing techniques are commonly employed in archaeology to reconstruct patterns of ceramic exchange and raw material procurement practices for the past, but the effects of post-depositional diagenesis are still often ignored despite a number of key studies warning that the composition of ceramics from archaeological deposits often diverges greatly from their original composition at the time of production. This current study on diagenesis derives from a large chemical and petrographic analysis of some of the earliest ceramics (1500–100 cal Before Common Era [BCE]) in the Basin of Mexico at a time when the development of ceramic trade networks helped to spread early stylistic canons across Mesoamerica. One important site, Altica, consistently presents ceramics that are high in barium. We use laser ablation – inductively coupled plazma—mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) to map the cross-sections of several samples from this site with the idea that post-depositional intake of mobile cations would appear as enriched at the surfaces of the pottery and around pores. Conversely, cations that leach out of the fabric would exhibit depleted concentrations in those same areas. We find that barium and a suite of other elements (e.g., copper, zinc, lead, tin, arsenic, calcium, strontium, and vanadium) have been chemically altered due to nearly 3000 years of burial in the soil. We explore the implications of those revelations for properly sourcing archaeological ceramics found at the Altica site and provide additional guidance for archaeologists and geochemists who employ ceramic compositional sourcing elsewhere.

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Experimental Evaluation of Sample‐extraction Methods and the Potential for Contamination in Ceramic Specimens*

Cited by 21 publications

References 16 publications

Alterations and Contaminations in Ceramics Deposited in Underwater Environments: An Experimental Approach

Alterations and Contaminations in Ceramics Deposited in Underwater Environments: An Experimental Approach

Geochemical Analysis of Mica Source Specimens and Artifacts From the Abbott Farm National Historic Landmark (28me1)

Chemical Mapping to Evaluate Post-Depositional Diagenesis among the Earliest Ceramics in the Teotihuacan Valley, Mexico

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