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Samson, Alice V.M., Wrapson, Lucy J., Cartwright, Caroline R., Sahy, Diana, Stacey, Rebecca J. and Cooper, Jago 
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2396-4414
(2017)
Artists before Columbus:A multi-method characterization of the materials and practices of Caribbean cave art.
Journal of Archaeological Science, 88.
pp. 24-36.
ISSN 0305-4403
Abstract
This study represents the first positive identification of plant gum binding media in pre-Columbian art, and the first dates from indigenous cave art in the Caribbean. Mona Island reveals an extensive and well-preserved pre-Columbian and early colonial subterranean cultural landscape with dense concentrations of newly-discovered cave art in up to 30 caves. A multi-method approach to the research of pigments and binding media, charcoal, and cave sediments was used to elucidate the technologies, chronologies and processes of indigenous art and artists. Analyses included on-site use of a portable X-ray fluorescence (P-XRF) device to inform sample selection, scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDX) on paint and charcoal samples, polarized light microscopy (PLM) for material characterizations, and gas chromatography - mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) for detailed chemical analysis of paint structures and composition. In addition direct dates of cave art using radiocarbon (C14) and Uranium-thorium (U-Th) dating methods are discussed. Results demonstrate multiple centuries of cave use during indigenous occupation and multiple phases and techniques of mark-making in dark zone locations within extensive cave systems. Visitors set out on pre-meditated journeys underground, making rock art using pigments from the cave floors, which they mixed into complex paints with the addition of plant gums from outside. This study is the first of its kind in the Caribbean providing insight into native paint recipes, material choices, and mark-making techniques. The methods have scope for widespread application and advance the integration of cave art research in archaeology.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Additional Information: | Funding Information: This work was supported by the National Environment Research Council [grant numbers IP-1595-1115 ; 1873.0914 ; IP-1467-1114 ] at the Oxford Radiocarbon Accelerator Unit NERC Radiocarbon Facility and the British Geological Survey , and also by National Geographic Society (grant numbers HJ-048R-17 & W437-16 ), the British Cave Research Association Cave Science and Technology Research Initiative, the British Museum, the University of Leicester, The Hamilton Kerr Institute, the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources of Puerto Rico, the Institute of Culture of Puerto Rico, and the Centre for Advanced Studies of Puerto Rico and the Caribbean. Publisher Copyright: © 2017 The Authors |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | caves and rock art,combined p-xrf,u-th dating,gc-ms and xrd analyses,indigenous caribbean,organic and non-organic paint recipes,plant gum binding media,edx,archaeology,archaeology ,/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/1200/1204 |
| Faculty \ School: | University of East Anglia Research Groups/Centres > Faculty of Arts and Humanities > Research Centres > Sainsbury Centre for the Visual Arts |
| Related URLs: | |
| Depositing User: | LivePure Connector |
| Date Deposited: | 27 Jul 2022 08:30 |
| Last Modified: | 23 Oct 2022 04:06 |
| URI: | https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/86913 |
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.jas.2017.09.012 |
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