Previous research has well established the significance of burned mussel shells as an aplastic tempering material in the archaeological record in North America. This research seeks to provide a baseline for archaeometric studies in Kansas archaeological ceramics by applying X-ray diffraction (XRD) and portable X-ray fluorescence (p-XRF) to ceramic reproduction. For this research, clay and mussel shells were recovered from the Lower Walnut River, in Cowley County, Kansas, to best represent raw material acquisition in the Lower Walnut focus of the Great Bend aspect. The results of this study indicate that the goal of firing shell was likely to reduce the Mohs hardness, making it easier to crush and grind. Furthermore, the high plasticity of the Lower Walnut River clay would have benefited from aplastic tempering materials like burned shell. Ultimately, the findings of this study expand upon previous experimental research and help provide a foundation for future studies regarding raw material acquisition and provenance in Kansas archaeological ceramics.