One hundred and twenty-seven Nazca pottery and ten imitations were analysed by thermoluminescence, neutron activation analysis, X ray fluorescence, transmission electron microscopy, X ray diffraction and Mӧssbauer spectroscopy, to obtain...
moreOne hundred and twenty-seven Nazca pottery and ten imitations were analysed by thermoluminescence, neutron activation analysis, X ray fluorescence, transmission electron microscopy, X ray diffraction and Mӧssbauer spectroscopy, to obtain analytical differences that allow differentiating them quickly. Additionally, 20 pieces of the Wari culture found in the city of Cahuachi were analysed. The multielementary composition of the Nazca ceramics obtained by AAN allows, owing to a multivariate analysis, differentiation of the samples according to their geographic origin but a chronological classification could not be obtained. This indicates that the Nazca pottery of each city was always prepared with the same raw material. However, samples from the museum of the UNMSM could not be classified, since these samples were collected in all Nazca regions. The brown, orange and yellow pigments of Nazca pottery contain different amounts of manganese and iron oxides. The same elements were found in modern ceramics, but additionally lead and zinc were detected in the yellow colour of modern ceramics. The presence of illita in the paste of all the analysed samples indicates that the firing temperature of Nazca pottery did not exceed 800°C. Also, the fact that the quadrupole splitting in the Mӧssbauer spectra as a function of temperature stays more or less constant until 700°C and soon falls quickly indicates that the firing temperature was approximately 700°C. This was corroborated with the same analysis on samples from modern ceramics heated to approximate temperatures of 700°C and 900°C.
