NORTH AMERICAN ARCHAEOLOGIST, Vol. 28(1) 59-80, 2007 A TRACE ELEMENT ANALYSIS OF CERAMICS FROM THE PETHICK SITE, SCHOHARIE COUNTY, NEW YORK CHRISTINA B. RIETH New York State Museum, Albany SEAN M. RAFFERTY DEREK SAPUTO State University of New York at Albany ABSTRACT A trace element analysis of ceramics and clay samples from the Schoharie Valley, New York State, is presented. This analysis focuses on a multi- component site, and a sample of comparative sites within the valley. Trace element analysis was conducted using energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence. Results indicate that: 1) most vessels are made from local clays; 2) there is a geographic relationship between trace element signatures of ceramic assem- blages from different sites; and 3) there is the potential for the presence of non-local ceramics within the valley, with implications for interregional trade and exchange. Planned directions for future analyses are presented. INTRODUCTION Characterization studies of ceramic composition have been a growing area of northeast archaeology since the second half of the 20th century. While some of this research has used petrographic methodologies (e.g., Pretola, 2002), in recent years, archaeometric techniques, including trace element analysis, have been used to examine ceramics and clays used to make pots. This research has provided 59 Ó 2007, Baywood Publishing Co., Inc. doi: 10.2190/NA.28.1.c http://baywood.com