Trace elements were determined in South West African potsherds by instrumental neutron activation analysis and by proton-induced x-ray emission analysis. The elements for which the relative spread of concentrations were greatest were selected as indicators. From these the methods of the Minimal Spanning Tree and of Nonlinear Mapping were used to classify about sixty specimens. Groups were tested by concentration, sum of concentration, and normalized concentration indexes. Similar groupings were obtained irrespective of which analytical data or mathematical techniques were used. -- AATA