38 Archaeological Geology (Posters)

Monday, 19 March 2012
1:30 PM - 5:30 PM
Ballrooms A & C and Ballroom Pre-function Area

VARIATION IN GEOCHEMICAL SOURCING OF SMOKING PIPE MANUFACTURE: A STUDY FROM THE ISLES OF SHOALS IN NEW ENGLAND

Paper number: 38-1
Program: Technical Sessions
Time: 1:30 PM – 5:30 PM

Authors

Abstract

Examining the mineralogical and chemical characteristics of historic period ceramic smoking pipes allows geographic sourcing of raw materials utilized for manufacture. A significant sample of circa 8000 specimens from the 17th and 18th century fishing station on Smuttynose at the Isle of Shoals, Maine is examined to source variability in production over time. The sample includes 500 redware pipes that reflect three manufacture forms dating from the mid 1600’s to the early 1700’s. Seventy specimens were selected from dated contexts for x-ray diffraction and x-ray fluorescence. The analysis of redware pipes suggests production in a location with tropical sediment.

The x-ray diffraction analysis of white ware pipes suggests three mineralogical populations for manufacture all likely in Europe. The x-ray diffraction analysis of redware pipes suggests two mineralogical populations for manufacture, possibly the Caribbean. This large sample of pipes allows us to examine variation in mineralogy and geochemistry in a decade time frame from the mid 17th to mid 18th centuries of the Gulf of Maine.