Using Non-Invasive Technologies to Identify Multiple Paint Recipes on Hohokam Pottery

Summary

As the emphasis on preservation archaeology increases, the application of non-destructive technologies to artifact analysis is becoming more relevant and commonplace. We employ three such techniques, decorrelation stretch (DStretch), x-ray fluorescence (XRF), and Fourier-transform Raman spectroscopy (FT-Raman), to investigate multiple paint hues found on a single pre-Classic Hohokam Red-on-buff sherd. We apply DStretch to visually enhance the paint and confirm the presence of two red hues. The variable hues are a result of either different red paints applied to a single ceramic vessel or differential weathering of a single paint across the vessel’s surface. To answer this, we rely on XRF and FT-Raman to determine whether or not chemical differences in the paint recipes account for the two hues. We conclude with a discussion regarding the implications of multiple paint recipes found on Hohokam Red-on-buff pottery.

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