ICP-MS analysis of the hand-built ceramics of medieval Karelian sites

A large number of medieval archaeological sites in Karelia are associated with three big natural and geographical regions that also appear to be historical and cultural areas. People residing in these territories demonstrate significant differences in material culture. In our study we considered the following territories: North-Western Priladozhje; South-Eastern Priladozhje; south-eastern Karelia (the basin of Onega and south-western coastal area of the White Sea) occupied by hunters and gatherers. Ceramic collections of mentioned sites contain hand-built pottery of the X-XII centuries found at settlements and in burial mounds. The main objective of the present research is to observe geochemical characteristics of various groups of vessels made of clay pastes and to determine similarities and differences in pottery production technologies. Several specimens of leading morphological vessel types and rare forms from pre-Tiversk settlement, dwelling sites in the south-eastern Karelia and burial mounds of the South-Eastern Priladozhje were selected for ICP-MS (inductively coupled plasma mass-spectrometry) analysis. The series also include samples of iron-rich clays gathered in different districts of Karelia and Priozerskiy district of Leningrad region.