Archaeometric studies of ceramics from the São Paulo II archaeological site (original) (raw)

Ancient ceramic analysis by neutron activation in association with multivariate methods

Brazilian Journal of Physics, 2005

We report a comparative study of two archaeological sites, Bela Vista and Serrano, located in the Araruama region of the state of Rio de Janeiro, in Brazil. The elemental geochemical compositions of the ceramics from both sites were determined by Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA). A statistical treatment of the data, using cluster analysis and principal component analysis, indicates that there are no correlations between these sites.

A Preliminary Study of Archaeological Ceramics from the São Paulo II Archaeological Site by Inaa

The determination of trace elements plays an important role in the characterization of archaeological ceramics. It is well established that ceramics can be grouped based on similarities/dissimilarities derived from chemical data. Different analytical methods can be applied to determine the sample composition. Instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) is the method preferred because present several advantages in relation to the other techniques. In this work, the elements determined were As Th and Zn to carry out a preliminary chemical characterization in 44 ceramic samples from São Paulo II archaeological site by INAA. The site is located in Coari city, 363 km from Manaus, Amazonas state (AM). The elementary concentration results were studied using multivariate statistical methods. The similarity/dissimilarity among the samples was studied by means of discriminant analysis. The compositions group classification was done through cluster analysis, showing the formation of the th...

A preliminary assessment of the provenance of ancient pottery through instrumental neutron activation analysis at the Monte Castelo site, Rondônia, Brazil

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, 2020

This research aims to contribute to the discussion of ceramic objects found at the Monte Castelo shellmound, an archaeological site located at southwest Amazonia, Brazil. This paper provides the results of a preliminary characterization of eighty-four pottery samples using instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) and dating by thermoluminescence (TL). The results showed the existence of three different chemical groups whose dates range from 3000 to 1500 BP. confirming changes in clay sources during that period. These results agree with previous studies about the technological changes and continuities in the Bacabal phase, one of the oldest ceramic cultures of South America.

The archaeometry study of the chemical and mineral composition of pottery from Brazil’s Northeast

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, 2009

Chemical and mineralogical analysis was performed on ceramics and clay samples from Barracão archaeological site located in Baixo São Francisco River by means of instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) and by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The data set was studied by means of cluster analysis (CA) and discriminant analysis (DA). The results showed that the raw material used in ceramics is not local. By using DSC it was possible to discover that the principal minerals in the samples are quartz, feldspars, mica and kaolinite.

Determination of trace elements in archaeological ceramics and application of Kernel Density Estimates: Implications for the definition of production locations

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, 2006

Chemistry fingerprint of materials helps determine provenance and technological production techniques, and, therefore, is useful way to study interaction between prehistoric people. In this work 38 ceramic fragments from Justino and São José sites, in Brazilian northeast, were analyzed using instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA). The recognition of the compositionally homogeneous group within of the database was performed by means of principal component (PC). The PC scores were calculated on the matrix covariance of the log base 10 transformed concentration values, and grouping was sought in the PC scores using Kernel Density Estimates (KDE). By using KDE from PC scores two chemically different groups were found. Discriminant analysis was performed to assess the groups' validity. Despite of the pottery from Justino and São José sites present same technical profile, different of the Tupiguarani and Aratu traditions, it was obtained that Justino and São José samples are constitute of distinct ceramic pastes. This result can be understood in terms of the cultural influences in the preparation of the ceramic past and that potteries analyzed are originate locally.

Chemical study of some ceramics from Brazilian Northeast

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, 2000

In this work 80 ceramic fragments from six archaeological sites were studied by considering two main aspects: (1) mineralogical/petrographic examination to identify the compounds and minerals present, and (2) elemental analysis via INAA to determine the concentration of As, Zn. Petrographic analysis showed that the samples from all sites are quite similar in general paste characteristics. The paste is rich in sand, mica and opaque minerals, especially iron and titanium oxides. Principal component analysis was carried out using the log transformed concentrations of determined elemental concentrations. Three components with eigenvalues greater than 1 had been extracted from the variance-covariance matrix that explained 74% of the total variation. Bivariate plot of the first two principal components showed a high degree chemically homogeneous group, providing a high degree of chemical similarity between the samples.

Neutron activation analysis for provenance studies of archaeological ceramics

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, 1990

Neutron activation analysis was used for provenance studies of ceramics from the early middle ages (avar period). 14 trace elements and Fe were determined by multiisotope comparator method. Computerized mathematical statistical methods (cluster-, and similarity analysis) were used for grouping the samples according to the similarity of their trace element distributions.

Comparative study: archaeological ceramics from Tupiguarani's sites located in the Brazilian states of Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo, applying the k 0 -NAA

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, 2024

Tupiguarani archaeological ceramics excavated in the Brazilian states of Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo were analysed by Neutron Activation Analysis with k 0-NAA to determine Th, U, and rare earth elements. The results showed that ceramics from one of the two sites studied in Espírito Santo have higher mass fractions of the analysed elements and greater data variability concerning ceramics from Minas Gerais. The results are consistent with the geological context of Espírito Santo, where the formation of clay, rich in the elements studied in this work can guide preliminary studies on the origin of archaeological ceramics.

Correlations between chemical composition and provenance of Justino site ceramics by INAA

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, 2008

Instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA), have been used for the definition of compositional groups of potteries from Justino site, Brazil, according to the chemical similarities of ceramic paste. The outliers were identified by means of robust Mahalanobis distance. The temper effect in the ceramic paste was studied by means of modified Mahalanobis filter. The results were interpreted by means of cluster, principal components, and discriminant analyses. This work provides contributions for the reconstruction of the prehistory of baixo São Francisco region, and for the reconstitution of the Brazilian Northeast ceramist population of general frame.

Preliminary Compositional Evidence of Provenance of Ceramics from Hatahara Archaeological Site, Central Amazonia

One hundred twenty four ceramic fragments and six clay samples from the Hatahara archaeological site in Amazonas state, Brazil, were analyzed using instrumental neutron activation analysis, INAA, to determine the concentration of twenty chemical elements: and Zn. The dataset was submitted to multivariate statistical analysis. The classification was done by cluster analysis and discriminant analysis. The results demonstrated the occurrence of four different groups of ceramics, which represent three archaeological phases: Paredão, Manacapuru, and Guarita. This data is consistent with previous traditional petrographic examination of the ceramic samples. Based on probability measures, the great majority of the ceramics are considered to be local in origin.