Investigations of Paints on Ancestral Puebloan Black-on-white Pottery Using Magnetic and Microanalytic Methods

摘要: Abstract A previous study of black paints on Ancestral Puebloan black-on-white potsherds showed that SEM-EDS (scanning electron microscopy—energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry) can unequivocally identify mineral based, iron-bearing paint and differentiate it from non-mineral based paint. From ethnographic accounts replicative experiments, the latter is generally assumed to be carbon (i.e., plant extract) based. However, actually demonstrating presence in any was problematic. Here, a new same demonstrates magnetic susceptibility hysteresis are also powerful criteria for differentiating between iron non-iron paints. Both methods non-destructive, rapid, require no sample preparation. Susceptibility inexpensive tested by supervised persons with minimal training, although quite expensive demands sophisticated expertise. surprising insight provided work coloration might caused elemental acting reduce within neighbouring pottery clay matrix, as opposed to, or addition simply blackness residual carbon, believed. This possibility adds importance need method detecting, presuming, carbon. Preliminary attempts at detection using system capabilities beyond used study, well XPS (X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy) discussed briefly. In case, properties help crosscheck refine categorization versus via visual traditionally archaeologists.