Testing assumptions of neutron activation analysis: Communities, workshopsand paste preparation in Yucatan, Mexico

Contemporary pottery and raw materials (N=170) from three workshops in Ticu l, Yucatan, were analysed by neutron activation to test the hypothesis that individual workshops that used their own clay sources could be identified by their pottery. Although the data failed to confirm the hypothesis, the r esults reinforced previous conclusions about the relationship of local comm unities of potters to the chemical patterning of pottery made in these comm unities.