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The research goals reported in this dissertation were twofold: to develop a protocol using non-destructive or minimally destructive methods to classify the colorants that were used prehistorically as inorganic/organic and pigment/dye, and to apply the protocol to selected textiles from Seip archaeological site, Ohio. The principle guiding the research was to adapt and sequence the analytical methods permitting the use of the smallest possible sample size which could still yield the most information. Through non-destructive forensic photography prior to any other analysis evidence for the chemical differences on the archaeological textiles resulting from the prehistoric colorant applications were revealed, which facilitated selective and purposive micro-sampling that maximized critical data acquisition while minimizing potential destruction of the artifact. Pretests on replicated materials were conducted first to assess feasibility and efficacy of selected analytical methods: photography in different lighting conditions (simulated daylight, infrared and ultraviolet), optical and scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDS), and inductively coupled mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) for elemental analysis. Differences in chemical signatures on painted replicas, otherwise invisible, were confirmed by forensic photography. While working with replicas, limitations of the analytical methods were discovered and addressed to adapt the methods for the use on archaeological materials. A specific sequence of modified methods, constituting the ideal protocol, was then applied to selected prehistoric textiles. Based on the visual examination, eleven textiles from the Hopewellian Seip Mound group were selected and divided into main colored groups: (1) yellow/brown, (2) turquoise/white, and (3) charred. Each of these groups was sampled based on the results of the photography; the turquoise/white group showed patterns otherwise invisible. Optical microscopy illustrated that the yellow/brown textiles were made of dyed rabbit hair with colorant saturated yarns and patterns identical on both sides of the textiles. The two other groups were painted. EDS of the yellow/brown group showed no elemental composition differences between colors, but high organic and copper content as did the turquoise/white group. The charred group showed no significant differences between several colors. However, the red had higher calcium and lower iron concentrations. Two textiles were identified as composite. |
