First technological and provenance analysis on obsidian artifacts from Tafí Valley (Tucumán Province, Argentine Republic)

MONTEGÚ, JUAN; FRANCO SALVI, VALERIA L.; SALAZAR, JULIÁN

Journal of Lithic Studies

University of Edinburgh

Lugar: Edinburgh; Año: 2018

The aim of this paper is to present and comment the first analysis carried out on lithic artifacts carved from obsidian recovered in two archaeological sites of the Tafí valley. The study addresses the sourcing and use of this raw material in their contexts, as well as the inclusion of the study area in the obsidian distribution circuits in the Northwest of Argentina. The methodology included techno-morphological and morphological-functional analysis as well as chemical provenance studies. The results enabled us to detect an exclusive and long-term use of the Ona-Las Cuevas source. In turn, the distance between the source and the archaeological sites suggests the implementation of indirect procurement practices within complex distribution circuits. Finally, it was identified that the lithic resource was used intensively to produce household artifacts and that it was part of routinary practices of daily life.