Advantages and Disadvantages of pXRF for Archaeological Ceramic Analysis: Prehistoric Pottery Distribution and Trade in NW Florida

Ceramic artifacts from northwest Florida were tested non-destructively with a portable X-ray fluorescence spectrometer to study production and trade during the Late Archaic, Late Prehistoric, and Protohistoric periods. Analyses using a Bruker III-V were conducted on 500 ceramic samples from 8 archaeological sites, for 180 seconds and using a filter that provides highly precise data for trace elements Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, and Nb. While these ceramics were not painted or glazed, analyses were done on both inside and outside surfaces, and on broken edges. Quantitative values in ppm were produced using widely shared calibration software for these elements, and principal components analysis of the data show that the ceramics fall into distinguishable site groups, with most of the artifacts tested most likely coming from clay sources near each site. Further investigation assesses whether there are patterns based on object type and decoration, and the advantages and disadvantages of using this method.