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Characterization and Comparative Analysis of Ancient Earthen Plasters from the American Southwest

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 February 2017

Angelyn Bass ,
Douglas Porter ,
Mike Spilde ,
Matthew Guebard ,
Katherine Shaum  and
Nicholas Ferriola
Angelyn Bass*
Affiliation:
University of New Mexico, Department of Anthropology, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131
Douglas Porter
Affiliation:
University of Vermont, School of Engineering, Burlington, Vermont 05405
Mike Spilde
Affiliation:
University of New Mexico, Institute of Meteoritics, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131
Matthew Guebard
Affiliation:
National Park Service, Southern Arizona Office, Phoenix, Arizona 85012
Katherine Shaum
Affiliation:
University of New Mexico, Department of Anthropology, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131
Nicholas Ferriola
Affiliation:
University of New Mexico, Department of Anthropology, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131
*
*(Email: [email protected])
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Abstract

We have studied earthen plasters and wall materials from three ancient Native American sites in the American Southwest that include a twelfth-century, subterranean kiva used for textile production in Natural Bridges National Monument (Utah), a thirteenth-century, defensive, cliff dwelling at Montezuma Castle (Arizona), and a mid-fourteenth-century, puddled earth Great House at Casa Grande National Monument (Arizona). In each case, the data collected has been used to develop long-term preservation strategies and monitoring plans for each site. To understand the conservation issues, earthen materials were analyzed. Characterization included examination of BSE-SEM micrographs of polished thin sections prepared from a total of 36 samples from the three sites, and XRD of twelve samples. Research goals included: 1) determining the microstructure, micro-composition, porosity, mineralogy of aggregates and phases in the binding matrix for each sample; 2) reconstructing plaster technologies and their variation within and between sites, including material selection, preparation and application sequences, and; 3) identifying principal deterioration conditions and processes. Our findings support the idea that plaster materials were collected locally and manipulated to optimize their performance to suit the unique site conditions and needs of the ancient people using the structures.

Keywords

x-ray diffraction (XRD)scanning electron microscopy (SEM)archaeology
Type
Articles
Information
MRS Advances , Volume 2 , Issue 39-40: Materials Issues in Art and Archaeology XI , 2017 , pp. 2145 - 2178
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2017 

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