University of Montana ScholarWorks at University of Montana Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers Graduate School 1996 Analysis on the elemental composition of ceramics in Barbados during the Saladoid and Suazoid period Scott Michael Fitzpatrick The University of Montana Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd Let us know how access to this document benefits ou.y Recommended Citation Fitzpatrick, Scott Michael, "Analysis on the elemental composition of ceramics in Barbados during the Saladoid and Suazoid period" (1996). Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers. 1555. https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd/1555 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at ScholarWorks at University of Montana. It has been accepted for inclusion in Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks at University of Montana. 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AN ANALYSIS ON THE ELEMENTAL COMPOSITION OF CERAMICS IN BARBADOS DURING THE SALADOID AND SUAZOID PERIODS Scott Michael Fitzpatrick B.A., B.A., Eastern Washington University, 1994 Presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts University of Montana 1996 Approved by Chi lan, Board of Ex: iners Dean, Graduate School Date UMI Number: EP35815 All rights reserved INFORMATION TO ALL USERS The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. In the unlikely event that the author did not send a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. UMI UMI EP35815 Published by ProQuest LLC (2012). Copyright in the Dissertation held by the Author. Microform Edition © ProQuest LLC. All rights reserved. This work is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code ProQuest LLC. 789 East Eisenhower Parkway P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106- 1346 There are two kinds of people in this world my Mend: those with loaded guns, and those who dig. -Clint Eastwood, explaining why he will be using a specialist to excavate a grave containing $200,000 in gold {The Good the Bad and theUgly] Fitzpatrick. Scott Michael, M.A., May, 1996 Anthropology An Analysis on the Elemental Composition of Ceramics in Barbados During the Saladoid and Suazoid Periods Chair; John E. Douglas In the past several decades, there have been numerous archaeological investigations conducted on the island of Barbados in the West Indies. However, no previous study has analyzed the composition of ceramics or resource extraction of clay. A question recently asked concerns the extent to which prehistoric peoples would have traveled for more preferable clays. It has been su^ested that clay for ceramics was taken from the very abundant deposits on the hillsides of Chalky Mount in the northeast part of the island. The following research is an interpretation of pottery samples from five different archaeological sites and clay from eight different source locations on Barbados. With the use of an inductivefy coupled argon plasma- emission spectrometer (ICAP-ES), 1 have analyzed a collection of 226 pottery sherds to determine source location during the Saladoid (200 B.C.- A.D. 650) and Suazoid (A.D. 1100-1600) periods. Because the extracts of ceramics made from a particular clay produce chemically identical solutions and contrasts with solutions made from different clays, the method can be reliably used for comparing and distinguishing ceramic sherds from their clay source. 1 have determined that prehistoric peoples were, to a great extent, using clays from near the settlement sites. This suggests that peoples on the south coast were not willing to travel to Chalky Mount to gather clay, and that peoples on the northern part of the island were more likely to travel to Chalky Mount, because of proximity. The use of clays closer to the settlements would have been an advantage in terms of the energy expended and the benefits received. The results of this research suggest that ceramic gathering and production had ties with the type of subsistence strategy practiced by peoples on Barbados as It changed through time. The consequences of a more sedentary Ufesfyle in the Suazoid period also probably led to a greater degree of craft specialization, thereby promoting an exchange network between sites. Principles derived from an evolutionary cultural approach show that there are environmental and sociotechnologlcal factors that Influenced resource procurement, subsistence strategies, and exchange on the Island. Acknowledgements I would like to thank the many people who have contributed to the completion of this research project. This study was made possible by the research interests of the Institute of Archaeology in London and the Barbados Museum and Historical Society. I am particularly grateful to Dr. Peter Drewett, Field Director and head of Prehistoric Archaeology at the Institute of Archaeology, University College London for providing his expertise, guidance, and materials for this project. Lys Drewett also assisted in the sorting and collection of clay and pottery samples. Phihppa King, curator of Natural History at the Barbados Museum and Historical Society, aided in arranging the transport of samples to the United States. Academic guidance and support in the completion of my Master's research has been given to me by the Anthropology departments at Eastern Washington University and the University of Montana. Dr. John E. Douglas, committee chair, recognized the potential of using weak-acid extraction on the samples 1 collected, and has aided in the technical methodolo^ needed for the analysis. Dr. Susan D. deFrance has provided a great deal of information relating to Caribbean prehistory. At the University of Montana, she became an unexpected blessing to my research Interests concerning this region. Dr. Keith Parker in the Pharmaceutical Sciences department has been very generous in supplying materials, equipment, and lab space for this analysis, and has provided great encouragement and input into the chemical analysis part of this project. A number of famlfy, friends, and colleagues have also helped me tremendously throughout the years In completing parts of this project. Lynn Biegelsen and Dr. Johnny Moore in the Geology department at UM spent considerable time explaining the technical aspects of the ICAP-ES and also aided in interpreting the data. Their expertise emd assistance in plasma - spectroscopy improved various areas of this research. Derek ill Larson, BFA student in the Fine Arts department at UM aided in the preparation and firing of clay samples. Michael Hill, student in the Forestiy department, spent countless hours helping to prepare the samples for analysis. Richard Hewitt and Jay Woodhouse, Institute of Archaeology, elided in the arrangement and selection of pottery samples while in Barbados. Mr. Beresford Henry at Chalky Mount Potteries generously donated clay from the area for analysis. The preparation of this report was aided by the availability of the site and excavation maps provided by Dr. Peter Drewett and the Land and Survey Office, Barbados. Funding for this project has come out of pocket, and firom a grant provided by the Spokane, Washington Chapter of the Archaeological Institute of America for my 1993 field season. IV Table of Contents Abstract ...................................................................................................................................... 11 Acknowledgements.................................................................................................................... Ill Table of Contents........................................................................................................................v List of Figures.............................................................................................................................vl Sections I INTRODUCTION.....................................................................................................................I Cultural Sequence in the Caribbean..........................................................................6 Project Background.....................................................................................................14 Cultural Sequence in Barbados................................................................................ 17 n SAMPLING PROCEDURES.............................................................................................. 20 Pottery Samples...........................................................................................................27 Clay Samples................................................................................................................30 Process and Analysis..................................................................................................34