Obsidian circulation: the case of Antofagasta de la Sierra basin (Southern Argentinean Puna) during the middle and late Holocene

ESCOLA, PATRICIA SUSANA; HOCSMAN, SALOMÓN; BABOT, MARÍA DEL PILAR

Uco

Congreso; 4th Southern Deserts Conference; 2014

Laboratorio de Paleoecología Humana, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Cuyo

This paper presents data regarding the provenience of 96 obsidian artifacts from archaeological sites of the Antofagasta de la Sierra basin (Catamarca) during the middle and late Holocene (ca.4500-1100 AP). A chemical characterization of five obsidian sources located in Southern Argentinean Puna is also performed. The time span considered encompasses a local process of gradual transformation of hunter-gatherer/early agro-pastoral groups to consolidated agro-pastoral societies. This information will be supplemented by previous provenience results performed on 59 obsidian archaeological artifacts of the same area. Thus, obsidian regional circulation during the considered time span and differential distribution and use of this raw material are discussed. Furthermore, this obsidian research allows support the occurrence of exchange networks based on use of extra-regional different obsidian sources located in Northern Puna. Non-destructive elemental analysis of obsidian artefacts was conducted using portable X-ray fluorescence spectrometer (XRF). This equipment provides a precise, fast and inexpensive analysis of obsidian samples, including complete tools as projectile points.