@article{f86d4e06634c474c961b44556b5c7d0a,
title = "Compositional characterization of prehistoric ceramics: A new approach",
abstract = "In this paper we present a promising new geochemical provenance technique that couples chemistry-based microwave digestion of archaeological ceramics with Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (MD-ICP-MS). MD-ICP-MS data for a standard reference material (SRM-679, brick clay) compare favourably with certified values, and data for prehistoric ceramics from the Virgin Branch Anasazi region of southern Nevada reproduce groups identified in an INAA study. We argue that MD-ICP-MS provides a cost-effective and readily available approach for determining the provenance of archaeological ceramics. As the use of nuclear reactors for archaeological research purpose becomes more tenous, MD-ICP-MS may also provide a viable alternative for bulk analysis of prehistoric ceramics in the long-term.",
author = "Kennett, {Douglas J.} and Sachiko Sakai and Hector Neff and Richard Gossett and Larson, {Daniel O.}",
note = "Funding Information: This research was supported by several scholarly and creative achievement awards from California State University, Long Beach to Kennett. Neutron activation analyses were funded by the National Science Foundation through grants SBR-9503035 and PHY-9732613. The latter grant funded Matt Dearing{\textquoteright}s participation in a Research Experiences for Undergraduates program at MURR during Summer, 1998. We thank Matt for carrying out the initial analyses of the Virgin Branch Anasazi ceramics. We also thank Mike Glascock for help generating the INAA data at MURR. Funding for the microwave digestion system was provided by the College of Liberal Arts at California State University, Long Beach. We thank Dee Abrahamse, Dave Dowell and Frank Fata for having the faith and foresight to help us develop a successful archaeometry program at CSULB. Jane Docherty, Dee Dee Rypka and Janet Salem provided incredibly valuable administrative support and Sarah McClure provided helpful comments on an earlier version of this manuscript. Also, a special thanks to Elaine Hasty, Dean Edge and Phil Sanchez from CEM corporation for technical help and assistance customizing the microwave oven for our purposes. Finally, we are grateful to Pat Hershalman and Zed Mason for technical assistance and helpful advice.",
year = "2002",
doi = "10.1006/jasc.2001.0737",
language = "English (US)",
volume = "29",
pages = "443--455",
journal = "Journal of Archaeological Science",
issn = "0305-4403",
publisher = "Academic Press Inc.",
number = "5",
}