Guarani ceramics pictorial material from X-ray fluorescence measurements

Abstract

The precolonial Guarani used to be spread over large areas in South America, especially in regions of the Prata River basin and Brazil’s coastal areas. Their great feature in terms of material culture is their ceramic production, especially for containers painted inside and outside. From X-ray fluorescence measurements, we present here a data analysis from pigments used in the production of paints applied in Guarani ceramic finishing of three archaeological sites located in Volta do Uvá, Upper Uruguay River. This analysis showed that red and white pigments come from inorganic materials, derived from earth minerals.