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Patination of Ceramic Objects, Modern and Prehistoric: A Case from West Mexico

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 February 2011

Meredith Aronson  and
W. David Kingery
Meredith Aronson
Affiliation:
Department of Materials Science, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721
W. David Kingery
Affiliation:
Department of Materials Science, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721
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Abstract

In many cases objects lacking specific provenience are deemed inappropriate for archaeological or art historical studies. The application of analytical techniques such as thermoluminescence or carbon-14 dating have been used in conjunction with stylistic information to strengthen arguments for provenience. In the case of late-Formative figurines from West Mexico, careful study of the dark patina using morphological and chemical criteria provides a means of assessing provenience of the figurine. Comparison of modern patinas to provenienced patinas has been carried out at several levels -- visual/stylistic, morphological and chemical.

Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 185: Symposium G – Materials Issues in Art and Archaeology II , 1990 , 571
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 1990

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