Abstract
In order to develop more rigorous methods for ceramic-specific chemical composition analyses using a portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF), this article compares pXRF and instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) analyses on Classic period (ca. 300–1000 CE) ceramics from 10 Maya Lowland archeological sites. Our comparative study indicates that pXRF analyses are capable of identifying the same region-level paste composition groups identified by INAA when using the same suite of elements. In addition, experimentation of different sample preparation techniques using a pXRF underscores the advantages and disadvantages of powdered samples versus the targeting of cleaned interior, exterior, and cross-section surfaces. As such, pXRF analyses provide an efficient way of looking at macro-scale ceramic production and exchange relationships in the Southern Maya Lowlands.
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