27847
Title Of Article Chaper
Thin section petrography of northern Lesser Antilles ceramics
Title Of Journal Book
Geoarchaeology
Volume
5
Issue
3
Pages
229-254
Collation
8 figs., 5 tables
Reference Bibliography
refs.
ISSN
0883-6353
Language Of Text
English
Language Of Summary
English
Literature Type
Serial
Literature Level
Analytic
Abstract
Thin sections from 44 sherds representing eight prehistoric sites on four islands (Barbuda, Montserrat, Anguilla, St. Martin) in the northern Lesser Antilles (West Indies) were examined using a petrographic microscope. Point counting distinguished three temper associations: (1) exclusively volcanic, (2) volcanic and carbonate, and (3) volcanic, carbonate, and grog. Exclusively volcanic or dominantly volcanic (with low carbonate) temper associations occur in all Saladoid and many post-Saladoid sherds, with plagioclase feldspar and volcanic rock fragments being most abundant. Thin sections with significant carbonate content or with grog were restricted to post-Saladoid sherds from Barbuda and to a lesser extent Anguilla. The presence of volcanic grains in sherds from the limestone islands of Barbuda and Anguilla indicates that volcanic islands in the region served as sources of pottery (or volcanic temper) for these two islands.
Keywords
petrography;ceramics;sherds;prehistoric; Northern Antilles (West Indies); temper;carbonate;feldspar;volcanic rock; limestone
pub_id
27847