Kevin J. Vaughn, Christina Conlee, Hector Neff and
Katharina Schreiber.

2005 A Compositional Analysis of Nasca Pigments: Implications for
Craft Production on the Prehispanic South Coast of Peru. In Laser
Ablation ICP-MS: A New Frontier in Archaeological Characterization
Studies, edited by R. J. Speakman and H. Neff, pp. 138-154.
University of New Mexico Press, Albuquerque.

Abstract

This paper describes an analysis of paints on polychrome pottery of the
Early Intermediate Period (EIP) and the Late Intermediate Period (LIP) of
the south coast of Peru. Using an ICPMS with a laser ablation sample
introduction system, we evaluate the composition of mineral paints present
on polychrome pottery. The analysis indicates the materials exploited for
the colors black, maroon, and white and how the "recipe" for black paint
changed through time from the EIP to the LIP. We suggest that this study
provides an additional line of evidence that demonstrates specialization in
pottery production in Early Nasca, and suggest that LA-ICP-MS is a
potentially useful technique to characterize prehispanic pigments.