Description

Petrographic and Qualitative Analyses of Sands and Sherds from the Lower Verde River Area (TR1995-1) (PDF): Appendixes B and F of The Lower Verde Archaeological Project:
Vol. 3. Material Culture and Physical Anthropology, edited by Stephanie M. Whittlesey

Ceramic vessels produced in the prehistoric American Southwest often contain abundant temper such as sand, disaggregated rock, and crushed sherd. Both sand and disaggregated rock tempers can be used as indicators of the provenance of archaeological ceramics when their geological sources are identified (Arnold 1985; Miksa 1995; Miksa and Heidke 1995; Schaller 1994).

The goal of the present study is to identify the provenance of ceramics recovered from project area sites in the lower Verde River on the basis of the temper found within them (Ciolek-Torrello et al. 1992:111-75 to 111-85). The focus of this study is on sand temper. Ceramic wares and/or types produced within the study area are distinguished from those imported from other areas. A reconnaissance sample of wash sands from the lower Verde River area was collected and analyzed to provide the information on geological sources necessary to reach this goal.