Patination of Ceramic Objects, Modern and Prehistoric: A Case from West Mexico
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PATINATION OF CERAMIC OBJECTS, MODERN AND PREHISTORIC: A CASE FROM WEST MEXICO MEREDITH ARONSON AND W. DAVID KINGERY Department of Materials Science, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721
ABSTRACT In many cases objects lacking specific provenience are deemed inappropriate for archaeological or art historical studies. The application of analytical techniques such as thermoluminescence or carbon-14 dating have been used in conjunction with stylistic information to strengthen arguments for provenience. In the case of late-Formative figurines from West Mexico, careful study of the dark patina using morphological and chemical criteria provides a means of assessing provenience of the figurine. Comparison of modern patinas to provenienced patinas has been carried out at morphological and chemical. several levels -- visual/stylistic,
Introduction This paper presents a means of establishing authenticity of ceramic objects through the study of surface deposits, or patinas. In the field of archaeology, recognition that ceramic surfaces reflect the cultural and natural environment of use and burial has led to studies such as residue analysis to determine vessel use (Clancy 1961, Condamin et al. 1976) and use-wear analysis to determine the specific context or use of ceramics (Hally 1983, Bray 1982). The focus of these studies is to extract meaningful information about the series of activities, or the process by which the surface underwent alteration. Similarly, by studying natural patination on ceramic objects, we propose to build a model for the process of patina formation, and then to predict what characteristics of the process of patination are important in uniquely defining a patina as opposed to a painted surface. Due to the complexity of the process of patination, we can then use this unique set of characteristics as a tool for authentication of patinated ceramics of uncertain provenience. The proposed methodology differs from more commonly used techniques such as C-14 dating or thermoluminescence in that it is not a means of measuring the age of an object, but rather a means of understanding whether the pre- and post-depositional (in the case of archaeological or tomb artifacts) state of the artifact makes sense given its proposed age. We propose that knowledge of how patina develops on surfaces should allow one to predict what one should see at macroscopic, microscopic and chemical levels on ancient West Mexican ceramic figurines from tomb context.
Mat. Res. Soc. Symp. Proc. Vol. 185.
1991 Materials Research Society
572
The stress on process is particularly relevant in studying these figurines. The figurines are found only in tomb context, and were produced in the late-Formative (BC 200 - AD 300, based on dating of associated artifacts) in Jalisco, Colima and Nayarit (Figure 1). They range in height from 10 cm. to nearly 1 meter, and are skillfully crafted slipped and painted low-fired wares (Figure 2). Their popularity with collectors has resulted in widespread looting as well as reproduction (documented to 19
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