ANALYSIS OF SHELL-TEMPERED POTTERY REPLICATES - IMPLICATIONS FOR PROVENANCE STUDIES

Archaeometric methods such as provenance studies must be predicated on understanding the processes that underlie the production of this info rmation. This study focuses on element-based provenance studies of Mis sissippian-period pottery, which are complicated by the fact that this pottery generally war tempered with crushed shell in different amount s and of unknown species composition. Experiments conducted at the Mis souri University Research Reactor (MURR) have documented elemental dil ution and enhancement effects of adding shell temper to clay. Mathemat ical corrections previously have been employed to correct for shell-te mper effects. Results of physical, chemical, and mathematical approach es to eliminating the effects of shell tempering indicate that mathema tical methods, based on a firm knowledge of shell composition provide the most efficient correction.