CHEN Xianqiu, LI Jiazhi, CHEN Shiping, ZHOU Xuelin

(Shanghai Institute of Ceramics, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

Cheng Huansheng

(Department of Physics II, Fuclan University; Shanghai)

Victor R. Palmeri

(Palmer Electronics lnc. 156 Belmont Ave. Garfield, NJ 07024, U.S. A.)

Abstract : The phase structure and chemical compositions of Ecuadoran Valdivia ancient pottery have been studied by POM, XRD and PIXE. It technical properties have also been measured. For the 、tudied 、amples, the matrices are mica plus glass and the media particles are feldspar, plagioclase with zonal structure and quartz. All the samples contain more or less volcanic ash particles. The PIXE method was used to determine the chemical composition and trace element concentration of Valdivia female figurin nncl other samples nondestructively. The chemical compositions were used for systematic statistical analysis. The analysis results show that all the studied samples are classifiedd into three categories which are close relative to their producing sites and periods. The racliolaria microfossils are discovered in a Valdivia mudious potsherd. It is confirmed that the kiln site of this shercl should locate at (or near) the coast of the Pacific Ocean and the raw material also came from the same place. This discovery will enlighten on the provenance for South America ancient pottery

Keywords: Ecuadoran Valdivia ancient pottery, Microstructures