Deconstructing a Complex Obsidian Landscape in Northwestern Patagonia: A Geoarchaeological and Geochemical approach.

MAC DONALD, BRANDI; FERNÁNDEZ, M. VICTORIA; BARBERENA, RAMIRO; DELLA NEGRA, CLAUDIA; RUGHINI, AGUSTINA; CORTEGOSO, VALERIA; DURAN VICTOR; GLASCOCK, MICHAEL

Buenos Aires

Simposio; 11º International Sympisum on Knappable Materials.; 2017

IMHICIHU-CONICET

Northwestern Patagonia is located in a tectonically active part of the southern Andes (Argentina), which has facilitated the formation of obsidian, including pyroclastic deposits that have been affected by geomorphic processes, resulting in a complex obsidian landscape. To date, the geomorphic relocation of obsidian in the landscape has not been a focus of systematic research, and this hampers our understanding of prehistoric human mobility. We present an updated assessment of the regional availability of different obsidian types based on results from our research program, which combines geoarchaeological survey and geochemical characterization to understand the properties and distribution of obsidian.