Lead isotope ratios of Pueblo I lead-glazed ceramics and galena from Colorado and Pueblo II galena from Chaco Canyon, New Mexico (original) (raw)
Related papers
High precision isotopic analyses of lead ores from New Mexico by MC-ICP-MS: implications for tracing the production and exchange of Pueblo IV glaze-decorated pottery, 2013
Between ca. 1275 and 1700 CE, Pueblo groups in the northern Southwest United States produced and exchanged ceramic bowls decorated with lead-based glaze paints. Previous studies of these glazedecorated bowls have used lead isotopic analysis by ICP-MS to identify the sources of lead used by Pueblo potters, and investigate how social or economic factors may have influenced resource use among different Pueblo communities (e.g. Habicht-Mauche et al., 2000, 2002; Huntley et al., 2007; Huntley, 2008). However, interpretations of much of this isotopic data have remained provisional because of overlap among the isotopic ratios of potential sources and because the isotopic composition of many glaze paints do not clearly match any known source. Here, we use multi-collector ICP-MS to re-measure the lead isotopic composition of 48 samples of lead sulfide (galena) and lead carbonate (cerussite) from sources in New Mexico that were potentially utilized by Pueblo potters, including mines within the Cerrillos Hills, Magdalena, Hansonburg, and Joyita Hills mining districts. These results define the isotopic composition of lead ores from these districts with greater precision and accuracy than achieved in previous studies and better distinguish among these mining districts in lead isotope space. Most significantly, we find that galena mineralization within the Cerrillos Hills only has a modest degree of isotopic variation, with 206Pb/204Pb ratios from 18.508 to 18.753, 207Pb/204Pb ratios from 15.580 to 15.607, and 208Pb/204Pb ratios from 38.388 to 38.560. These ranges are far narrower than previously reported, and should supersede previously published values for this district. In total, we conclude that isotopic measurements of both ores and glaze paints made by MC-ICP-MS will provide new information about the provenance of lead in glaze paints and allow for more detailed interpretations about resource procurement and exchange in the Pueblo world.
Journal of …, 2007
For nearly four hundred years, Pueblo potters in the Rio Grande Valley of New Mexico produced technologically innovative glaze-decorated bowls and exchanged them widely among different villages. While potential sources of lead ores used to make glaze paints are found throughout the Rio Grande Valley region, researchers have only recently begun to identify which ore sources potters exploited and to understand the social and economic factors underlying patterns of ore resource use. In this paper we use stable lead isotope and electron microprobe analysis of glaze paints on Rio Grande Glaze Ware made at two Salinas pueblos to identify ore sources and glaze recipes used by their potters. Despite some isotopic overlap of ore sources, the lead isotope data point to regular exploitation of ores from the Socorro area of the southern Rio Grande. Salinas potters apparently used other sources as well, and likely mixed ores from different sources. We also identify four local glaze recipes that appear to incorporate multiple ore sources, suggesting that Salinas potters obtained raw ores rather than finished glaze paints.
Isotopic Tracing of Prehistoric Rio Grande Glaze-Paint Production and Trade
Journal of archaeological …, 2000
Stable lead isotope analyses, using high resolution inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), accurately traced the origin of lead ores used in the production of ceramic glaze-paints by prehistoric Pueblo potters in the American Southwest. The analyses show that, despite the availability of other local sources, most potters in north-central New Mexico during the fifteenth century obtained lead from the Cerrillos Hills. These results suggest that certain strategically-located communities may have controlled the distribution of lead within the region. Thus, lead isotope analysis proved an effective technique for examining prehistoric patterns of resource utilisation, production, and exchange.
Lead and strontium isotopes as tracers for Early Formative pottery exchange in ancient Mexico
Journal of Archaeological Science, 2021
The sourcing of ceramics contributes to resolve questions about the nature of interactions between ancient societies. One such question concerns the primacy of the Olmec center of San Lorenzo in the development of the first unified iconographic style and its role in the early evolution of Mesoamerican civilization. Applying a combination of the isotopic systems of lead and strontium to a selection of ceramics dating to Early Formative period (1500-1000 BCE), this research evaluates the isotopic approach as an independent tool to address previously debated questions. The results demonstrate the capacity of isotopic analyses to discriminate between production centers, identify imports, relate unassigned samples to their production center and ceramics to raw material, and produce insights into production strategies (ceramics used locally versus exports). It subsequently shows how this approach can help solving existing hypotheses relying on ceramic provenance in the Early Formative period in Ancient Mexico. The findings discussed in this study more largely demonstrate that the isotopic approach constitutes a powerful tool to source ceramics and should be considered where contradictory hypotheses exist on their provenance.
Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, 2018
Fine earthenwares imported from England are a distinctive artifact type frequently found on early nineteenth century Native American and Euro-American sites in eastern North America. Relatively rapid changes in decorative motifs and technologies can easily be identified by eye and provide information about site chronology and economic status. However, visual analyses of sherds usually can provide only general information because most assemblages are very fragmented. We present the chemical composition of pigments and glazes from sherds from two sites occupied during the first half of the nineteenth century: Pokagon Village, a Native American site (southwestern Michigan); and Collier Lodge, a Euro-American site (northwestern Indiana). Multi-element compositions of glazed portions of 12 sherds (with 3 different decorations, 2 specimens from each site of each pattern) were determined by scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), micro X-ray fluorescence (μXRF), and laser-ablation-inductively coupled mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS). SEM-EDS was especially useful for determining glaze composition, μXRF rapidly provides information on pigment composition and Pb content, and LA-MC-ICP-MS provides information on trace elements and Pb isotopes that reflect different raw material sources.
In this paper, we characterize the production and circulation of Early Green Glazed (EGG) Ware, an innovative variety of lead-glazed ceramics produced in Peru’s North Coast region in the wake of the Spanish colonization of the Andes. INAA of pastes and LA-ICP-MS of glazes of EGG Ware samples collected from sites in Peru’s Zaña, and Chicama river valleys reveal contrasting patterns of composition. While paste characterization via INAA identified a great deal of compositional diversity, LA-ICP-MS data from glazes falls into two discrete groups. We interpret these results as evidence of 1) disperse production of pastes, employing either a wide variety of source materials and/or recipes, mirroring the production of Late Preshispanic paddle-stamped wares, and 2) more nucleated collection of materials for glaze production, perhaps from distinct sources of lead ore. We interpret the presence of small numbers of samples with glaze compositions characteristic of the Zaña valley in Chicama Valley assemblages as evidence of possible trade between indigenous communities in artisanal goods and/or raw materials during the late 16th century CE.
Portable X-ray fluorescence analyses of metal artifacts from El Purgatorio, the capital city of the Casma state, show a significant presence of lead in several artifacts. Compositional analysis indicates that late Prehistoric peoples were using either intentional selection of lead-bearing ores, intentional mixing of lead with other metals to form alloys during the manufacturing process, or perhaps using both techniques as part of their metallurgical technology. These findings confirm the use of copper–lead alloys by pre-Inca cultures, an advance that had previously lacked much support, and establish the Casma state as one of the cultures contributing to Andean metallurgical traditions.
Lead Exposure: Pottery Impact in Tlaxcala, Mexico
Revista Internacional de Contaminación Ambiental, 2017
The objective of this work was to assess the blood lead level in paired samples of pottery-glaze workers to confirm the LeadCare ® II System (LCS) reliability using this device in the general population, and quantify this metal in cooked food in lead-glazed containers. The blood lead measurement in pottery-glaze workers was carried out by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS) and the LCS. this last method was also used in the general population. The food lead level was quantified through GFAAS. The paired data showed a significant correlation (r = 0.976, p < 0.001), a mean difference of 3.3 µg/dL with limits of agreement between-2.4 to 9 and an intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.928. These results indicate a good concordance between both methods. The blood lead median of 32.0 µg/dL and interquartile range (IQR) of 16.1 was higher in the pottery-glaze workers than in the general population (children = 5.4 µg/dL, IQR = 5.9 and adults = 8.3 µg/dL, IQR = 2.7). Lead in food exceeded the maximum level considered in the Codex alimentarius. Pottery persists as a potential risk in the Tlaxcala State population.