OBSIDIAN SOURCING AND MOBILITY STRATEGIES IN A HIGH ELEVATION DESERT IN NW ARGENTINA

ELIZABETH PINTAR ; JORGE MARTINEZ ; MICHEL GLASCOCK ; JORGE FUNES CORONEL

Sacramento

Encuentro; 76th meeting for the Society for American Archaeology; 2011

This paper presents the results of obsidian sourcing analyses in NW Argentina between 8000 and 6000 BP, a period of increased aridity known as the Altithermal. We will explore the pattern in the use of certain obsidian sources as a tool to identify, discriminate, and distinguish source areas as well as to enhance our understanding of hunter-gatherer regional mobility.obsidian sourcing analyses in NW Argentina between 8000 and 6000 BP, a period of increased aridity known as the Altithermal. We will explore the pattern in the use of certain obsidian sources as a tool to identify, discriminate, and distinguish source areas as well as to enhance our understanding of hunter-gatherer regional mobility.