Radiocarbon-Based Investigations Into the Authenticity of Mesoamerican Artefacts in Museum Contexts Erdil, Pınar; Kuitems, Margot; Berger, Martin; Dee, Michael W
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University of Groningen Radiocarbon-based investigations into the authenticity of Mesoamerican artefacts in museum contexts Erdil, Pınar; Kuitems, Margot; Berger, Martin; Dee, Michael W. Published in: Palaeohistoria DOI: 10.21827/6072c57fcfb58 IMPORTANT NOTE: You are advised to consult the publisher's version (publisher's PDF) if you wish to cite from it. Please check the document version below. Document Version Publisher's PDF, also known as Version of record Publication date: 2021 Link to publication in University of Groningen/UMCG research database Citation for published version (APA): Erdil, P., Kuitems, M., Berger, M., & Dee, M. W. (2021). Radiocarbon-based investigations into the authenticity of Mesoamerican artefacts in museum contexts. Palaeohistoria, 61/62, 345-351. https://doi.org/10.21827/6072c57fcfb58 Copyright Other than for strictly personal use, it is not permitted to download or to forward/distribute the text or part of it without the consent of the author(s) and/or copyright holder(s), unless the work is under an open content license (like Creative Commons). The publication may also be distributed here under the terms of Article 25fa of the Dutch Copyright Act, indicated by the “Taverne” license. More information can be found on the University of Groningen website: https://www.rug.nl/library/open-access/self-archiving-pure/taverne- amendment. Take-down policy If you believe that this document breaches copyright please contact us providing details, and we will remove access to the work immediately and investigate your claim. Downloaded from the University of Groningen/UMCG research database (Pure): http://www.rug.nl/research/portal. For technical reasons the number of authors shown on this cover page is limited to 10 maximum. PALAEOHISTORIA ACTA ET COMMUNICATIONES INSTITUTI ARCHAEOLOGICI UNIVERSITATIS GRONINGANAE 61/62 (2019/2020) University of Groningen / Groningen Institute of Archaeology & Barkhuis Groningen 2021 Editorial staff P.A.J. Attema, E. Bolhuis, R.T.J. Cappers, P.D. Jordan, F. Kramer (Editorial Coordinator), M.A. Los-Weijns, S. Needs-Howarth (Copy Editor), D.C.M. Raemaekers, S. Voutsaki Drawing office S.E. Boersma, E. Bolhuis (Coordinator), M.A. Los-Weijns, S. Tiebackx Address University of Groningen Groningen Institute of Archaeology Poststraat 6 9712 ER Groningen The Netherlands [email protected] Website www.palaeohistoria.nl DOI: https://doi.org/10.21827/5beaafbcc2bf2 Publisher’s address Barkhuis Kooiweg 38 9761 GL Eelde The Netherlands [email protected] www.barkhuis.nl Typesetting Hannie Steegstra Cover design S.E. Boersma Cover A decorated Late Postclassic Mixtec human skull from Teotitlán del Camino, Oaxaca, Mexico, possibly dating to c.1400–1520 CE. The type of adhesive used to affix the mosaic to the skull raised some doubts about the authenticity of the object. Photo P. Erdil. (Collection Nationaal Museum van Wereldculturen. Coll.No. RV-4007-1.) ISSN 0552-9344 ISBN 9789493194298 Copyright © 2021 Groningen Institute of Archaeology, University of Groningen, the Netherlands. All rights reserved. No part of this publication or the information contained herein may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronical, mechanical, by photocopying, record- ing or otherwise, without prior written permission from the Groningen Institute of Archaeology, University of Groningen. Although all care is taken to ensure the integrity and quality of this publication and the information herein, no reponsibility is assumed by the publishers nor the authors for any damage to property or persons as a result of operation or use of this publication and/or the information contained herein. Contents In memoriam Piet Kooi W.A.B. van der Sanden ........................................................................................................... 1 Bibliography of Piet Kooi Kirsten van der Ploeg ............................................................................................................... 5 In memoriam Harm Tjalling Waterbolk Archaeologist with a passion for nature and landscape J. Bazelmans & J. Kolen ............................................................................................................9 Bibliography of H.T. Waterbolk .............................................................................................. 16 Super interesting black hole? The micromorphology of organic materials in a Mesolithic hearth pit feature from the site of Soest-Staringlaan (the Netherlands) D.J. Huisman & L.A. Tebbens .................................................................................................. 27 Fossilized fashion and social sparkle Dutch Bronze Age bracelets in context S. Arnoldussen & H. Steegstra ................................................................................................43 A pilot study on coarse ware ceramic fabrics from the Ayios Vasileios Survey Project (Greece) G.J.M. van Oortmerssen & C.W. Wiersma ............................................................................... 111 Tracing the Final Bronze Age–Early Iron Age transition Groningen Institute of Archaeology settlement excavations in the Sibaritide, 2018-2019 P.M. van Leusen & F. Ippolito ............................................................................................... 141 Grave goods from Sveta Lucija (Slovenia) in Groningen (the Netherlands) Contextualising old study collections Albert J. Nijboer .................................................................................................................. 169 Terra sigillata in southern Latium The evidence from the Pontine Region Project, 1987-2014 G.W. Tol, T.C.A. de Haas & P.A.J. Attema .............................................................................. 203 Isolated and backward Westerwolde (Groningen, the Netherlands)? A confrontation of archaeological and historical data from the Middle Ages in a wider geographical context Henny A. Groenendijk & Remi van Schaïk ............................................................................273 Radiocarbon-based investigations into the authenticity of Mesoamerican artefacts in museum contexts P. Erdil, M. Kuitems, M. Berger & M.W. Dee .......................................................................... 345 DOI: https://doi.org/10.21827/6072c57fcfb58 Radiocarbon-based investigations into the authenticity of Mesoamerican artefacts in museum contexts P. Erdila,b, M. Kuitemsb, M. Bergerc,d & M.W. Deeb a Groningen Institute of Archaeology, University of Groningen Corresponding author, [[email protected]] b Centre for Isotope Research, University of Groningen c National Museum of World Cultures, Leiden d Faculty of Archaeology, Leiden University Abstract: In this article, radiocarbon dating has been used as a tool for investigating the authenticity of two Mesoamerican artefacts from the collection of the National Museum of World Cultures (Museum Volkenkunde), Leiden, the Netherlands. The first artefact is a ceremonial Aztec, possibly a tecpatl, knife, and it is presumed to date to 1300–1500 CE. The second object is a decorated Mixtec skull, presumed to date to 1400–1520 CE. The efficacy of radiocarbon dating was thoroughly tested in this study, especially in regard to the tiny quantities that could be sampled from the skull. However, with the newly revamped radiocarbon facility at the University of Groningen, this was an opportune moment to attempt such research. Ultimately, a credible result could not be obtained on the skull; however, the ceremonial knife was dated reliably to the Aztec period. The article also discusses the broader issue of whether radio carbon results can be used as a definitive proof of authenticity and examines the riskreward nature of radiocarbon testing. Keywords: Mesoamerica, preColumbian artefacts, radiocarbon dating, authentication, museum studies. 1. Introduction been a persistent problem ever since the first European incursions into the continent. Looting intensified in Authentication studies on archaeologically or historic- the 20th century, when pre-Columbian art became en ally valuable artefacts can be conducted through inter- vogue, especially in the United States among museums disciplinary work between scientists, archaeologists and private collectors. As a result, the demand for these and historians (Simon & Röhrs 2018: 2). The goal is pieces exploded and museums across the world started commonly achieved through a series of studies that to acquire large numbers of pre-Columbian pieces of involve the identification of components and fabrica- art. The 1950s and 1960s were an especially significant tion methods, and concludes with the assignment of period in this regard (Coggins 1969; Boone 1993; Alva unknown objects to a specific culture and time period 2001; Tremain & Yates 2019). The unprecedented extent (Richardin & Gandolfo 2013: 1810). This article focuses to which looting took place in these decades eventu- on the use of radiocarbon (14C) dating as a means for ally led to the creation of international legislation that determining the authenticity of two Mesoamerican prohibited the trade in these pieces, especially the artefacts: a knife with a wooden handle, and a decor- UNESCO 1970 Convention on the Means of Prohibiting ated skull, from the collections of the National Museum and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of World Cultures (NMVW) in Leiden, the Netherlands. of Ownership of Cultural Property. The combination of Like all other pre-Columbian