Estudos arqueométricos de cerâmicas indigenas pré-coloniais das lagoas do castelo e vermelha, localizadas no Pantanal Sul-Mato-Grossense

An intense archeological research initiated in 1990 was conducted in the west border of Pantanal of Mato-grosso do Sul, where almost 200 sites are located along flood plains and the Urucum massive. The ceramic material collected in the MS-CP-71 and MS-CP-61 archaeological sites was classified as pertaining to the Pantanal Tradition. Ancient ceramics are a resistant material capable of keeping its identity through centuries giving to the modern man the opportunity to know better the costumes and technological knowledge of his ancestors. To investigate this material in all its details, physical and chemical techniques were applied. Morphological studies and elemental composition determination of potshards were conducted by means of SEM, EDS and PIXE/PIGE analysis. SEM images showing the additive's distribution within the ceramic mass enabled to understand the manufacturing process of the pottery under study. PIXE/PIGE measurements allowed to distinguish the ceramic material coming from two distinct archaeological sites and the correlation of the material with clay sources from the region. Concerning the firing process of the pottery EPR and XPS analysis proved to be well suited techniques for the determination of the firing temperature and the origin of external layer coloration.