A Study of Obsidian Source Usage in the Central Andes of Argentina and Chile

GIESSO, M; ; DURÁN, V. ; NEME, G. ; GLASCOCK, M. ; CORTEGOSO, V. ; GIL, A.; SANHUESA, L.

ARCHAEOMETRY

WILEY-BLACKWELL PUBLISHING, INC

Lugar: Londres; Año: 2011 vol. 53 p. 1 - 21

0003-813X

We present the results of XRF analysis for 428 obsidian samples from archaeologicalsites in the Argentine province of Mendoza and from central Chile. The archaeologicalsamples come from different environments and have dates that range from 9000 to 300BP. Results indicate that all known sources were utilized, however the beginnings and the intensities of their exploitation were variable. On the contrary, strong differences appear especially between the cordilleran and the non-cordillera sources. We suggest that this pattern is mainly related to differences in the accessibility, quality and abundance of the obsidian in the sources.