Dunnell Under the direction of Dr. Robert Dunnell, Mr. James Truncer will collect data for his doctoral dissertation. He will conduct both neutron Activation and electron microprobe analysis on a series of steatite samples collected from a number of prehistoric quarries in the U.S. Middle Atlantic States. He will also conduct similar analyses on archaeological objects manufactured from this material. Steatite is a soft rock which was widely used by prehistoric peoples and was carved into cooking vessels and nonutilitarian objects. Because steatite is fairly uncommon in nature, because it is located in discrete outcrops which are often widely separated and because chemical composition is variable, Mr. Truncer hopes to develop a means to chemically and mineralogically distinguish outcrops. This would allow steatite artifacts recovered in archaeological sites to be linked to source areas. Preliminary work he has conducted suggests that such a goal is feasible. Archaeologists have learned that even early hunter and gatherer groups did not live in isolation but were linked into regional networks. Just how these larger organizations functioned, how far they extended and how they changed over time is unknown. The study of trade networks provides direct insight into this process and steatite, if it can be sourced, can be used for this purpose. This research is important for several reasons. It will provide information of interest to archaeologists who work in the U.S. Mid-Atlantic states. It will help to develop a technique of widespread potential use and it will assist in the training of a promising young scientist.
