Chemical and Mineralogical Analysis of Varney Red-Filmed Ceramics from the Lower Mississippi River Valley

Identifier

1033

Author

Lindsay Plunk

Date

2014

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Major

Earth Sciences

Concentration

Archaeology

Committee Chair

Andrew Mickelson

Committee Member

David Dye

Committee Member

Daniel Larsen

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to examine Early Mississippian Red-Filmed ceramics from three sites in the Lower Mississippi River Valley (Chickasawba Mound, Shelby Forest, and Walnut Mound) using techniques of archaeometry, namely x-ray diffraction (XRD) and thin-section petrography. The XRD technique revealed the percent mineral composition of the sherds in bulk analysis and presence or absence of minerals in the slip analysis. Petrographic results include the types of inclusions in each sample, as well as mineral shape and size, and temper sorting and abundance. The red nature of the slip appears to be due to very rounded iron-oxide nodules and other iron-rich minerals. The data support a hypothesis that the people at each site were mostly responsible for their own ceramic production, but a few items may have been exchange goods.

Comments

Data is provided by the student.

Library Comment

Dissertation or thesis originally submitted to the local University of Memphis Electronic Theses & dissertation (ETD) Repository.

Recommended Citation

Plunk, Lindsay, "Chemical and Mineralogical Analysis of Varney Red-Filmed Ceramics from the Lower Mississippi River Valley" (2014). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 874.
https://digitalcommons.memphis.edu/etd/874