Melting Moments: Modelling archaeological high temperature ceramic data

Abstract

A fundamental concept in compositional studies in archaeology is that an elemental fingerprint most broadly reflects region- or area-specific petrogenetic conditions (the provenance postulate). In this study, a sample population from a single shipwreck assemblage of trade ceramics (stoneware jars from East and Southeast Asia), can be separated into clear compositional groups. While the multivariate elemental definition of these groups is not controversial, their interpretation is. The study uses a method of elemental data optimisation where mathematical and statistical techniques are combined to explicitly evaluate the significance of these groups. Contrary to expectations, group elemental signatures emerge as hybrids of provenance and temperature. The results highlight the value of explicit modelling approaches to archaeological ceramic elemental datasets, as well as underscore the general influence of temperature on stoneware compositional profiles.