Petrography and provenance of sand temper within ceramic sherds from Carriacou, Southern Grenadines, West Indies

Carriacou, the largest of the Grenadine Islands, contains abundant ceramic bearing archaeological sites. A total of 73 sherds collected fromlO of these sites was petrographically analyzed in this study to determine their provenance, along with sherds from Petite Martinique (n = 5). Additional geological material, beach sands (n = 30) and outcrop rock samples (n =28) was collected from Carriacou, Petite Martinique, Grenada, and Barbados for comparison. Thin sections inade from the sherd, and geological samples (n = 138) were stained for calcium and potassium feldspar recognition. Selected representative samples (sherds n = 36, sands n = 9, and rocks n = 2) were point-counted using the Gazzi-Dickinson method with maximum counts of 300 grains (temper/sand) per thin section. Matrix, porosity, and cement categories were tallied separately. The percentage of temper in the sherd samples ranges from 16-41 %. Petrographic analysis of the sherd samples reveals at least four temper groups: Igneous (n = 69), Placer (n = 3), Potassic Volcanic (n = 5), and Quartzose (n = 1) based upon composition and texture. Group 1 (Igneous) temper shows a continuum from more feldspathic-rich (QFL%Q = ~80%) to more volcanic lithic-rich (QFL%Q = ~40%) end members. Major components include plagioclase, opaque minerals, pyroxene, and volcanic lithic fragments exhibiting microlitic and lathwork textures. Group 2 (Placer) temper contains many of the same mineralogical components as Group 1 with a much more significant proportion of dense minerals (total grain % dense minerals = ?50%) such as pyroxene, amphibole, and opaque minerals. Group 3 (Potassic Volcanic) temper contains significant proportions of potassium feldspar and potassium-rich volcanic lithic fragments (QmKP%K = ?37%). Minor components include plagioclase and opaque minerals. Group 4 (Quartzose) temper contains dominant monocrystalline quartz (QFL%Q = 88%; QmKP%Qm = 90%) and metamorphic lithic fragments (LmLvLs%Lm = 80%). Minor components include polycrystalline quartz, feldspar, and dense minerals. [More in document]