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Geochemical Analysis of Eight Red Ochres from Western North America

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Jon M. Erlandson ,
J. D. Robertson  and
Christophe Descantes
Jon M. Erlandson
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403-1218
J. D. Robertson
Affiliation:
Department of Chemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506
Christophe Descantes
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403-1218
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Abstract

In this paper, we report on our examination of the suitability of geochemical provenance studies on red ochre sources from western North America. We report geochemical data derived from PIXE (particle-induced X-ray emission) analysis of eight red ochre sources from California, Oregon, Wyoming, and Alaska. Our preliminary analysis of these red ochres, including multiple samples from one large deposit, suggests that the tested samples vary significantly between sources. It appears likely that the geochemical analysis of red ochres, widely used and traded among Native Americans and other ancient peoples around the world, could expand the range of materials used by archaeologists and other scholars to reconstruct past exchange and interaction systems.

Résumé

Résumé

Este artículo discute nuestra evaluación de los estudios de proveniencia geoquímica de lasfuentes de ocre rojo en Norte América occidental. Reportamos los resultados del análisis de ocho fuentes de ocre rojo en Alaska, California, Oregon, y Wyoming, incluyendo múltiples muestras de un depósito extenso. Los datos obtenidos por medio de la técnica PIXE (emisión de rayos X inducida por protones) indican que las muestras de diferentes fuentes varían significativamente. Es posible que el análisis geoquímica de ocre rojo, el cual fue utilizado ampliamente e intercambiado entre grupos nativo-americanos y otras poblaciones alrededor del mundo, podría expandir el rango de los materiales usados por arqueólogos y otros investigadores para reconstruir sistemas de intercambio e interacción pasados.

Type
Reports
Information
American Antiquity , Volume 64 , Issue 3 , July 1999 , pp. 517 - 526
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for American Archaeology 1999

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