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GEOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF MICA SOURCE SPECIMENS AND ARTIFACTS FROM THE ABBOTT FARM NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK (28ME1)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2017

Matthew T. Boulanger ,
Gregory D. Lattanzi ,
Cody C. Roush  and
Michael D. Glascock
Matthew T. Boulanger*
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology, Southern Methodist University, 3225 Daniel Avenue, Dallas, TX 75205, USA
Gregory D. Lattanzi
Affiliation:
Bureau of Archaeology, New Jersey State Museum, 205 West State Street, Trenton, NJ 08625, USA
Cody C. Roush
Affiliation:
Archaeometry Laboratory, University of Missouri Research Reactor, 1513 Research Park Dr., Columbia, MO 65211, USA
Michael D. Glascock
Affiliation:
Archaeometry Laboratory, University of Missouri Research Reactor, 1513 Research Park Dr., Columbia, MO 65211, USA
*
([email protected], corresponding author)
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Abstract

The Abbott Farm National Historic Landmark is one of the more significant Woodland-period sites in the Northeast. Numerous Hopewellian cultural traits (copper artifacts, cremated burials, exotic cherts, and mica) have been identified at the site. Numerous potential geological sources for the mica artifacts exist in the Mid-Atlantic region. We explore two analytical methods to evaluate the most likely geological sources of the mica artifacts. Source and artifact specimens were analyzed using pXRF as well as neutron activation. Our pXRF data are suggestive, but show high analytical uncertainty. We make several recommendations relevant to future attempts that would use this kind of instrument to study sheet mica. Our neutron activation results are promising and suggest that geochemical sourcing of mica has much potential. Results of both assays suggest that most of the artifact specimens recovered from Abbott Farm share a similar chemistry, and this composition is very similar to mica from southeastern Pennsylvania. A cut-and-drilled pendant exhibits a chemical makeup distinctly different from all other artifacts and source specimens evaluated here. Although our results are preliminary, the application of modern analytical methods to extant archaeological collections has the potential to provide significant new information.

El Abbott Farm National Historic Landmark es uno de los sitios más significativos del período silvícola del noreste de Estados Unidos. Numerosos rasgos culturales (artefactos de cobre, entierros incinerados, sílex exótico y mica) han sido identificados en el sitio. Numerosas fuentes geológicas potenciales para los artefactos de mica existen en la región del Atlántico Medio. Se exploran dos métodos analíticos para evaluar las fuentes más probables de los artefactos de mica. Muestras procedentes de las fuentes y algunos artefactos fueron analizados usando fluorescencia de rayos X portátil (pXRF) así como análisis por activación neutrónica (AAN). Los datos procedentes del análisis por pXRF son sugestivos pero muestran un alto nivel de incertidumbre analítica. Se hacen varias recomendaciones sobre el uso de esta clase de instrumento en investigaciones futuras para estudiar la mica laminada. Los resultados del AAN son prometedores y sugieren que el estudio geoquímico del abastecimiento de mica tiene mucho potencial. Los resultados de ambos ensayos sugieren que la mayoría de los ejemplares de artefactos recobrados del Abbott Farm tienen una composición química parecida que es muy semejante a la mica del sudeste de Pennsylvania. Un pendiente cortado y taladrado muestra una composición química distinta de la de todos los otros artefactos y muestras de fuentes evaluadas aquí. Aunque nuestros resultados sean preliminares, la aplicación de los modernos métodos analíticos a las colecciones arqueológicas existentes tiene el potencial de proporcionar nueva información significativa.

Type
Reports
Information
American Antiquity , Volume 82 , Issue 2 , April 2017 , pp. 374 - 396
Copyright
Copyright © 2017 by the Society for American Archaeology 

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References

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