A PETROGENETIC AND CHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF NORTH EASTERN STEATITE TO LOCATE THE ABORIGINAL LOCALITY OF STEATITE ARTIFACTS IN NEW YORK STATE

During the Late Archaic Period of New York State the archaeological record shows a considerable increase in the use of steatite. These vessels, as well as other artifacts crafted from this mineral, signify important changes for the people of that period. It is the general belief that 1800 BC saw the widespread use of steatite. Viewed as a horizon marker for the Late Archaic, the use of these vessels and artifacts showed that settlements in New York State were not moving from their locations as often as before, if at all. Steatite is not known as geologically indigenous to New York, its high specific gravity make it difficult to transport or trade over great distance. Thus the question is posed, if it is not found in New York naturally, where did the steatite originate from? By identifying the origin source of the New York State steatite, we should also be able to determine the routes it took to arrive in the state, and what possible trade existed.

At present, there are no known extensive databases of steatite samples for the temperate north eastern United States. There are a few collections of specimens from type localities, but these are usually restricted regionally and some of the specimens may have been collected without maintaining strict contextual data. To obtain the best data, and there by greater results from data, the research must be conducted in a manner that does not appear to have yet happened. You must remove the transformational model, and instill an empirical, evolutionary explanation. The steatization of talc and the mineral assemblages in the country rock surrounding it can produce varied results.

By employing the use of petro genetic data, derived by the means of optical thin sectioning for mineralogical study as well as submitting samples for both IR and XRF chemical analysis diagnostic testing, an indisputable data set of steatite samples can be created from north east steatite. In addition, a control group with using samples taken from New York State artifacts collected in context, will also be tested with the same methodology. With the use of these methods, a set of questions will be answered as to mineral assemblages and chemical composition.