THE APPLICATION OF INSTRUMENTAL NEUTRON ACTIVATION ANALYSIS TO A STUDY OF PREHISTORIC STEATITE ARTIFACTS AND SOURCE MATERIALS

Ralph O. Allen · Alvin H. Luckenbach · C. G. Holland

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Cultural Heritage Materials Analysis Archaeological and Geological Studies Nuclear Physics and Applications

Abstract

ABSTRACTS A study of the trace and minor element content of steatite artifacts from the Eastern United States has been carried out. Samples from both quarry and habitation sites ranging from New York to North Carolina have been analyzed through the use of instrumental neutron activation analysis. The most successful method of evaluating data has involved the study of a very coherent group of elements known as the Rare Earths. Geological processes cause fractionation of this group and it is this fractionation which is of use in terms of characterizing the source deposits of this material. Promising but less definitive results have been obtained with the elements scandium, chromium, cobalt and others. Sufficient variations have been found to be present in the source deposits of steatite in this area to enable differentiation, and the successful linking of samples from habitation sites to their quarry deposits has been achieved in some cases. This paper discusses the results of this study to date, the methods employed, and the potential value of this work in helping to reconstruct prehistoric trading systems.

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1969Trade and Culture Process in European Prehistory 1972THE USE OF NON‐DESTRUCTIVE ACTIVATION ANALYSIS AND PATTERN RECOGNITION IN THE STUDY OF FLINT ARTEFACTS 1970Characterization of Prehistoric Flint Mine Products

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1977MAYA JADE: SOURCE LOCATION AND ANALYSIS11This research was carried out while Hammond was Leverhulme Research Fellow in New Worid Archaeology at the Centre of Latin American Studies, Cambridge University, and Fellow of Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge, and Gazard was a member of King's College, Cambridge and the Cambridge University Statistical Laboratory. Hazelden's participation in the project was financed by a grant from the Wenner-Gren Foundation for Anthropological Research Inc. and Gazard's by a grant from Mrs. Gail Hollenbeck. Costs of irradiation were met by the Science Research Council. The authors express their individual and collective gratitude to these supporters and also to Jennifer M. Braithwaite, Dip. A.D. (Graphics), who drew the figures, and David L. Clarke, for good advice.1979PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL ANALYSES OF SOFT STONE VESSELS FROM SOUTHWEST ASIA 1998STEATITE SOURCE CHARACTERIZATION IN EASTERN NORTH AMERICA: NEW RESULTS USING INSTRUMENTAL NEUTRON ACTIVATION ANALYSIS*1983Trial excavations on Pictish and Viking settlements at Saevar Howe, Birsay, Orkney 2006A new protocol for the chemical characterisation of steatite – two case studies in Europe: the Shetland Islands and Crete 2016Characterization and origin of steatite beads made by Northern Iroquoians in the St. Lawrence Valley during the 15th and 16th centuries

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