Trace element and Pb isotope provenance analyses of native copper in northwestern North America: results of a recent pilot study using INAA, ICP-MS, and LA-MC-ICP-MS

Several indigenous groups in northwestern North America used native copper prior to EuroAmerican contact. The Arctic, Subarctic, and Northwest Coast culture areas all have archaeological finds and geological sources of native copper. The copper-rich region of south-central Alaska and southwestern Yu...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of archaeological science 2008-06, Vol.35 (6), p.1732-1747
Main Authors: Cooper, H. Kory, Duke, M. John M., Simonetti, Antonio, Chen, GuangCheng
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Alaska
America and Arctic regions
Arctic regions
Athapaskan
Excavation and methods
Geoarchaeology
Laboratory methods
Methodology and general studies
Native copper
Northwest Coast
Physical and chemical analysis
Prehistory and protohistory
Tlingit
Yukon
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Summary:Several indigenous groups in northwestern North America used native copper prior to EuroAmerican contact. The Arctic, Subarctic, and Northwest Coast culture areas all have archaeological finds and geological sources of native copper. The copper-rich region of south-central Alaska and southwestern Yukon has often been credited as the source of archaeological native copper found on the Northwest Coast despite the presence of native copper sources further south. This paper presents the results of a pilot study using INAA, ICP-MS, and LA-MC-ICP-MS to assess the potential for native copper provenance research in Alaska and the Yukon Territory. Discrete native copper sources could be distinguished from one another intra-regionally. Difficulties associated with future native copper provenance research in northwestern North America are discussed.
ISSN:0305-4403
1095-9238
DOI:10.1016/j.jas.2007.11.012