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Deciphering Compositional Patterning in Plainware Ceramics from Late Prehistoric Hunter-Gatherer Sites in the Peninsular Ranges, San Diego County, California

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Patrick S. Quinn
Affiliation:
Institute of Archaeology, University College London, 31-34 Gordon Square, London, WC1H 0PY, UK (patrick.quinn@ucl.ac.uk)
Margie M. Burton
Affiliation:
San Diego Archaeological Center, 16666 San Pasqual Valley Road, Escondido, CA 92027-7001 (mburton@sandiegoarchaeology.org)
David Broughton
Affiliation:
Department of Archaeology, University of Sheffield, Northgate House, West Street, Sheffield, SI 4ET, UK
Sophie Van Heymbeeck
Affiliation:
Department of Archaeology, University of Sheffield, Northgate House, West Street, Sheffield, SI 4ET, UK

Abstract

We report on thin section petrographic analysis of plainware ceramic sherds from two Late Prehistoric hunter-gatherer sites in the Peninsular Ranges of San Diego County, California. We describe several distinctive compositional groups and compare these with previously analyzed ceramics and geological field samples to infer probable raw materials and provenance. In addition, taking into account archaeological and ethnohistoric context, we suggest cultural processes that may have contributed to the observed distribution across sites of three dominant compositional groups distinguishable within the general "brownware" category. The study demonstrates the potential of a compositional approach for investigating cultural practices among prehistoric hunter-gatherer populations with plainware ceramic craft traditions.

Resumen

Resumen

Aquί, reportamos sobre el análisis petrográfico de secciones delgadas de cerámica sin decoración, esto de dos sitios cazadorrecolectores de la época Prehistórica tardίa en la Cordillera Peninsular del Condado de San Diego, California. También, describimos varios grupos composicionales y los comparamos con cerámica previamente analizada y muestras geológicas para inferir probables materiales crudos asί como su procedencia. Además, considerando el contexto arqueológico y etnohistórico, sugerimos ciertos procesos culturales que pueden haber contribuido a la distribución observada entre sitios de tres grupos composicionales dominantes dentro de la categorίa general de pasta color café o, por su denominación en inglés, "brownware." El estudio demuestra el potencial de una estrategia composicional para investigar prácticas culturales, sobre todo en poblaciones cazador-recolectores prehistóricas con tradiciones de artesanίa en cerámica sin decoración.

Type
Reports
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for American Archaeology 2014

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Supplementary material: PDF

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