Spectroscopic characterization of recently excavated archaeological potsherds of Taquara/Itararé tradition from Tobias Wagner site (Santa Catarina - Brazil)

- Potsherd samples recently found in the South of Brazil were characterized by spectroscopic techniques
- The semiquantitative analysis of potsherds was achieved and correlated successfully with the minerals found
- Results of the analysis were used to obtain information about the firing temperature and manufacturing processes

Ceramic fragments provide one source of information for archaeologists about the way of life of different ancient population groups, especially concerning cultural identity, social organization and economics. By using scientific techniques of analysis, it is possible to elucidate the process of pottery production, as well as the specificities of the material used. In this paper, archaeological potsherd samples of the Taquara/Itararé Tradition collected in the research in Tobias Wagner site (TWG) were analyzed by spectroscopic methods and their micromorphology elucidated by electron microscopy. Semiquantitative elementary analysis using EDS showed that the elements in high content in the samples are Al, Si and Fe while in a lesser amount we found K and Ti. The sample TWG 219.8.2 presented accurate features of Zr, which may be a marker associated with the site where clay was collected. The main minerals that constitute the analyzed ceramics are kaolinite, quartz and haematite, and TiO2 in the form of anatase present in the samples just in small quantities. The micromorphology of all samples is demonstrated to be very similar, presenting a heterogenic form with little particles of different geometries. With these results, it is estimated that the firing temperature of the fragments was at the most 850° C.

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