Chemistry Project Abstract
LEAD ANALYSIS OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL POTTERY SAMPLES
Presenters:
William Conroy, Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy, 1500 W. Sullivan Road, Aurora, IL 60506; billyc@imsa.edu
Jessica D’Souza, Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy, 1500 W. Sullivan Road, Aurora, IL 60506; jessica@imsa.edu
Mentor:
David Gossman, Gossman Consulting, Inc., 45W962 Plank Road, Hampshire, IL 60140
Abstract:
After discovering pieces of Native American pottery in a cave on the Gossman farm in Jackson County, Iowa, it was noted that there were many lead mines in the area north of the farm. This led to the idea that lead poisoning may have affected the population that created the ceramic pieces. In order to test this hypothesis, the pottery samples were crushed and digested in a solution of hydrochloric and nitric acids. A control solution was also created for comparison of results. An atomic absorption spectrophotometer was used to determine the amount of lead in the pottery samples. Further research assessed whether this quantity was above lead levels expected for pottery.