Ultrasonic dissaggregation and instrumental neutron activation analysis of textural fractions of Tucson Basin and Ohio Valley pottery

Abstract

Chemical variation in ceramic pastes may derive in part from textural variation. In order to investigate this possibility, experiments were carried out in which different size fractions of ceramics, temper, and raw clays were characterized by INAA. Fractionation of the samples, archaeological and geological specimens from the Tucson Basin and the Ohio Valley, was accomplished using an ultrasonic disaggregation technique. Results indicate that, under most circumstances, little or no increase in resolution of compositional groups is achieved by analysis of the smallest size fraction.