Abstract
Recent petrographic analysis of Hohokam plain and buffwares indicated a difference in morphology between schist temper in prehistoric sherds and schist in alluvial sands. In addition, it was proposed that the temper in such pottery was not from sand, but was composed of schist that had been intentionally crushed and added to the paste. The purpose of the present work was to determine whether scanning electron microscopy (SEM) can determine whether schist as temper in Hohokam pottery is derived from that naturally present in sand or from schist deliberately crushed and added. Morphological characteristics of schist in both experimental briquettes and actual Hohokam sherds were examined with a scanning electron microscope. Results with experimental briquettes demonstrate that SEM can be used to distinguish between natural schist present in sand and that present as intentionally crushed schist. Results with actual Hohokam sherds further supported this conclusion and demonstrated that buffware pottery was made with both sand containing schist and crushed schist alone. Thus, we conclude that SEM analysis of prehistoric pottery sherds, along with chemical and archaeological evidence, should assist in the determination of the source of the temper material for buffwares as well as provide a better understanding of the mechanics of pottery production.
Published Version
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