Chemical Mapping to Evaluate Post-Depositional Diagenesis among the Earliest Ceramics in the Teotihuacan Valley, Mexico

Chemical and mineral sourcing techniques are commonly employed in archaeology to reconstruct patterns of ceramic exchange and raw material procurement practices for the past, but the effects of post-depositional diagenesis are still often ignored despite a number of key studies warning that the composition of ceramics from archaeological deposits often diverges greatly from their original composition at the time of production. This current study on diagenesis derives from a large chemical and petrographic analysis of some of the earliest ceramics (1500–100 cal Before Common Era [BCE]) in the Basin of Mexico at a time when the development of ceramic trade networks helped to spread early stylistic canons across Mesoamerica. One important site, Altica, consistently presents ceramics that are high in barium. We use laser ablation-inductively coupled plazma—mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) to map the cross-sections of several samples from this site with the idea that post-depositional intake of mobile cations would appear as enriched at the surfaces of the pottery and around pores. Conversely, cations that leach out of the fabric would exhibit depleted concentrations in those same areas. We find that barium and a suite of other elements (e.g., copper, zinc, lead, tin, arsenic, calcium, strontium, and vanadium) have been chemically altered due to nearly 3000 years of burial in the soil. We explore the implications of those revelations for properly sourcing archaeological ceramics found at the Altica site and provide additional guidance for archaeologists and geochemists who employ ceramic compositional sourcing elsewhere.

KERAMIK CINA BAGI ORANG BIAK-NUMFOR DI TELUK CENDERAWASIH: PENGGUNAAN DAN MAKNANYA (The Chinese Ceramics of Biaknese Numfor in Gulf of Cenderawasih: It’s Use and Meaning)

Chinese ceramics is a thing that comes from outside Papua. existence is possible because of the trading relationship either directly or indirectly, with ceramic producer countries. Ceramic exchange (barter) to produce Papua, especially the Bird of Paradise, Pala, Masohi, and aloes. Chinese ceramics for the Biak-Noemfoor in cenderawasih an important valuables. The past, the Biak-Noemfoor have a lot of Chinese ceramics is regarded as a hero (mambri). This paper will discuss the shape and type of ceramics used in the Biak cultural activities, as well as the use and meaning of Chinese ceramics for the Biak-Noemfoor. The method used is descriptive qualitative, with data collection through literature study, observation and interviews. Chinese ceramics found on archaeological sites in the area that is the site Biak Wariaba 5 and websites Snerbab b. Utilization of Chinese ceramics in the traditional ceremonies of Biak-Noemfoor the tradition continues.AbstrakKeramik Cina merupakan benda yang berasal dari luar Papua. Keberadaannya dimungkinkan karena adanya hubungan dagang dengan negara-negara produsen keramik, baik secara langsung maupun tidak. Keramik ditukar (barter) dengan hasil bumi Papua, khususnya burung cenderawasih, pala, masohi, dan gaharu. Keramik Cina bagi orang Biak-Numfor di Teluk cenderawasih merupakan barang berharga yang penting. Masa lalu, orang Biak-Numfor memiliki banyak keramik Cina dianggap sebagai pahlawan (Mambri). Tulisan ini akan membahas bentuk dan jenis keramik yang digunakan dalam aktivitas budaya orang Biak, serta penggunaan dan makna keramik Cina bagi orang Biak-Numfor. Metode penelitian yang digunakan adalah kualitatif deskriptif, dengan teknik pengumpulan data melalui studi kepustakaan, observasi dan wawancara. Keramik Cina yang ditemukan di situs arkeologi di wilayah Biak yaitu situs Wariaba 5 dan situs Snerbab b. Pemanfaatan keramik Cina dalam upacara adat orang Biak-Numfor merupakan tradisi berlanjut