Wd. James et al., COMPOSITIONAL ANALYSIS OF AMERICAN SOUTHWESTERN CERAMICS BY NEUTRON-ACTIVATION ANALYSIS, Journal of radioanalytical and nuclear chemistry, 192(1), 1995, pp. 109-116
Instrumental neutron activation analysis was used to perform compositi
onal analysis on more than 200 potsherds from prehistoric ceramic pott
ery collected in or near the Mimbres Valley in New Mexico. Statistical
evaluation of the data was used to identify samples of similar origin
. Results indicate that at least two sites within the Mimbres headland
and one in the Upper Gilla Valley existed for the production of the c
haracteristic Classic Mimbres pottery. The composition of the clusters
of samples identified are described and the significance of the group
ings to the archaeology of the region is discussed.