Seeing red: an analysis of archeological hematite in east central Missouri
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(2020) 12:23
ORIGINAL PAPER
Seeing red: an analysis of archeological hematite in east central Missouri Daniel E. Pierce 1
&
Patti J. Wright 2 & Rachel S. Popelka-Filcoff 3
Received: 24 May 2019 / Accepted: 25 October 2019 # Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2020
Abstract Ceramic and chert artifacts constitute the main evidence for understanding trade and cultural dynamics in prehistoric eastern Missouri. But despite its relative ubiquity, hematite, most often characterized as ochre, has rarely been considered for such research. To partially fill the void, neutron activation analysis (NAA) was utilized to analyze collections of hematite artifacts excavated from the Truman Road Site (n = 31) and other nearby sites (n = 7) in the lower Missouri River valley. Our results indicate no significant temporal or spatial patterning of its usage or acquisition. Similarly, low correlation exists between the chemistry and artifact type. Furthermore, the assemblage is compositionally distinct from previously analyzed source samples from elsewhere in Missouri. Therefore, the origin of the artifacts remains undetermined. Although they could not be linked to a single acquisition locale, the results suggest at least two separate, although possibly related, sources. Overall, this study serves to increase our understanding of the characterization and diversity of hematite and its usage in prehistoric Missouri. Keywords Hematite . Ochre . NAA . Provenance . Prestige goods . Long-distance exchange . Prehistoric America
Introduction Prehistoric ochre usage/trade Beginning as early as 380,000 years ago (Elias et al. 2006), hematite was highly prized by countless prehistoric cultures (Chalmin et al. 2004; Clarke 1976; Dayet et al. 2013; Dowson 1998; Gialanella et al. 2011; Henshilwood et al. 2009; Zilhão et al. 2010). Although the terms “hematite” and “red ochre” are sometimes used interchangeably, the former is more specific, while the latter is often used to broadly characterize iron-rich rocks (both hematite and goethite). Often, these minerals are mixed with silicates and other minerals for the purposes of making pigments (Rifkin 2012; Rosso et al. 2016). Raw hematite can be compact, * Daniel E. Pierce [email protected] 1
Archaeometry Laboratory, University of Missouri Research Reactor, 1513 Research Park Dr., Columbia, MO 65211, USA
2
Department of Anthropology and Archaeology, University of Missouri- St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
3
College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
granular, metallic, or earthy and is quite dense (specific gravity of ca. 4.9–5.3) lending to its relative weightiness (Gilluly et al. 1959). In its most common usage, the characteristic color of red ochre occurs when hematite (Fe2O3) is the primary iron oxide (Jercher et al. 1998). Conversely, yellowish hues are produced when goethite (a hydrated hematite) [FeO(OH)] is more prevalent (Elias et al. 2006). This versatile material has had a wide variety of uses ranging from pigment
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