New Data For Old Pots: Trace-Element Characterization of Ancient Egyptian Pottery Using ICP-MS

Abstract

Trace-element concentrations determined by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) show that three groups of Nile “silt” pottery from Mendes and Karnak (Akhenaten Temple Project excavations) can be distinguished using Pb, Li, Yb and Hf data. Heavy rare earth-element variations between these groups may be related to climatic fluctuations. Previously reported Nile silt pottery groups from Kahun have trace-element signatures consistent with the addition of marl clay and alkali granite temper (from Aswan?) to Nile alluvium. Two groups of “Marl” pottery and one of “foreign” pottery from Karnak and Kahun are easily distinguished using Cs, Th and Yb data and statistical (discriminant) analysis. Analytical methods that yield data representative of numerous geochemical groups (e.g. alkali metals, Li, Rb; alkaline earth metals, Ba, Sr; high field strength elements, Zr, Ta, U; rare earth elements, La, Yb; chalcophile elements, Pb, Bi; and siderophile elements, Fe, Ni) are most useful for provenance studies due to the diversity of clays and tempers used in making pottery. The ICP-MS provides this type of comprehensive data set, precisely determined and at a cost competitive with other techniques (e.g. Instrumental Neutron Activation). It appears to have a promising future in pottery provenance studies.