TY - JOUR
T1 - Hematite sources and archaeological ochres from Hohokam and O'odham sites in central Arizona: an experiment in type identification and characterization
AU - Eiselt, B
AU - Popelka-Filcoff, Rachel
AU - Darling, J
AU - Glascock, Michael
PY - 2011/11
Y1 - 2011/11
N2 - The use of ochre is a defining characteristic of populations living in the Sonoran Desert of the American Southwest. Red pigments and paints were used for craft production, bodily adornment, rock art, and in mortuary contexts. Hematite and other iron-oxides are common components of this pigment that frequently appear in the archaeological record in a variety of forms and in various stages of production. Beyond this, very little is known about these materials. This paper describes the collection of potential geological sources of ochre in the Phoenix Basin and presents a methodology for the identification of processed paints. Geological sources samples are characterized using instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) and compared to raw materials recovered archaeologically from the Gila River Indian Community reservation. This preliminary study indicates that iron-oxide sources can be distinguished from each other and that artifacts can be matched to these sources, revealing local procurement along the Gila River by Hohokam and O'odham artisans and continuity in use of one source from the prehistoric period to the present.
AB - The use of ochre is a defining characteristic of populations living in the Sonoran Desert of the American Southwest. Red pigments and paints were used for craft production, bodily adornment, rock art, and in mortuary contexts. Hematite and other iron-oxides are common components of this pigment that frequently appear in the archaeological record in a variety of forms and in various stages of production. Beyond this, very little is known about these materials. This paper describes the collection of potential geological sources of ochre in the Phoenix Basin and presents a methodology for the identification of processed paints. Geological sources samples are characterized using instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) and compared to raw materials recovered archaeologically from the Gila River Indian Community reservation. This preliminary study indicates that iron-oxide sources can be distinguished from each other and that artifacts can be matched to these sources, revealing local procurement along the Gila River by Hohokam and O'odham artisans and continuity in use of one source from the prehistoric period to the present.
KW - Arizona
KW - Hohokam
KW - INAA
KW - Ochre
KW - Phoenix Basin
KW - Pigments
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=80052278543&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jas.2011.06.030
DO - 10.1016/j.jas.2011.06.030
M3 - Article
VL - 38
SP - 3019
EP - 3028
JO - Journal of Archaeological Science
JF - Journal of Archaeological Science
SN - 0305-4403
IS - 11
ER -