Archaeometry of pre‐Hispanic pottery from San Luis Potosi, México

Abstract

Neutron activation analysis, Mossbauer spectroscopy and X‐ray diffraction techniques were used to characterize pre‐Hispanic potsherds and modern ceramic pottery, samples of which were collected in Tenexco, San Luis Potosi, Mexico. Elementary and spectroscopic analysis showed differences between ancient and modern ceramics. While the modern ceramics studied were practically new and not used at all, the ancient ones were probably used in domestic or ceremonial activities. Besides, the latter were kept buried for a long time, and it is quite probable that their manufacture was also slightly different from that of the former. These assumptions could provide the clues to understand some of the observed differences between the composition of ancient and modern ceramics whose raw materials may have the same origin.