Comparison of INAA elemental composition data between Lago Grande and Osvaldo archaeological sites in the central Amazon: a first perspective

Author(s)

Hazenfratz, Roberto ^[1] ; Mongelo, Guilherme ^[2] ; Munita, Casimiro S. ^[1] ; Neves, Eduardo G. ^[2]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Nucl & Energy Res Inst, IPEN CNEN SP, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Museum Archaeol & Ethnol, Sao Paulo - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: JOURNAL OF RADIOANALYTICAL AND NUCLEAR CHEMISTRY; v. 291, n. 1, p. 43-48, JAN 2012.
• Web of Science Citations: 2

Abstract

In this work, 50 ceramic fragments from the Lago Grande and 30 from the Osvaldo archaeological site were compared to assess elemental similarities. The aim is to perform a preliminary comparison between the sites, which are located in the central Amazon, Brazil. The analytical technique employed to obtain the ceramics elemental composition was instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA). The data set obtained was explored by the multivariate statistical techniques of cluster, principal component and discriminant analysis. The analyzed elements were: Na, Lu, U, Yb, La, Th, Cr, Cs, Sc, Fe, Eu, Ce and Hf. The results showed the existence of at least two compositional groups for Lago Grande and Osvaldo. Each compositional group of Osvaldo archaeological site matches with one group of Lago Grande. Correlated with the archaeological background, the results suggest commercial or cultural exchange in the region, which is an indicative of socio-cultural interactions between those sites. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 10/07659-0 - Archaeometric studies of Lago Grande and Osvaldo archaeological aites in the Central Amazon
• Grantee: Roberto Hazenfratz Marks
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate (Direct)