Hostname: page-component-77c89778f8-swr86 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-22T01:02:43.807Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Precise Characterization of Guatemalan Obsidian Sources, and Source Determination of Artifacts from Quiriguá

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Fred H. Stross ,
Payson Sheets ,
Frank Asaro  and
Helen V. Michel
Fred H. Stross
Affiliation:
Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720
Payson Sheets
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309
Frank Asaro
Affiliation:
Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720
Helen V. Michel
Affiliation:
Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

For the determination of provenience of obsidian artifacts, precise and accurate measurements of composition patterns of the geologic sources are necessary for definitive and cost-effective assignments. Inter-comparison of data from different laboratories is often difficult. Suggestions for maximizing the usefulness of data already in the literature are made, contributions to a useful data bank of source composition patterns are recorded, and provenience determinations of 30 artifacts excavated in Quirigua, Guatemala are presented to exemplify the technique.

Type
Reports
Information
American Antiquity , Volume 48 , Issue 2 , April 1983 , pp. 323 - 346
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for American Archaeology 1983

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

References Cited

Asaro, F., Michel, H. V., Sidrys, R., and Stross, F. H. 1978 High-precision Chemical Characterization of Major Obsidian Sources in Guatemala. American Antiquity 43:436–443.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Asaro, F., Stross, F. H., and Michel, H. V. 1974-1979 Unpublished data on file at the Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley.Google Scholar
Cheek, C. D. 1977 Teotihuacan Influence at Kaminaljuyu. In Teotihuacan and Kaminaljuyu, edited by Sanders, W. and Nichols, J., pp. 441–452. Pennsylvania State University Press, University Park.Google Scholar
Cobean, R. H., Coe, M. D., Perry, E. A. Jr., Turekian, K. K., and Kharkar, D. P. 1971 Obsidian Trade at San Lorenzo Tenochtitlan, Mexico. Science 174:666–671.Google Scholar
Ericson, J. E., and Kimberlin, J. 1977 Obsidian Sources, Chemical Characterization, and Hydration Rates in West Mexico. Archaeometry 19(2):157–166.Google Scholar
Fox, J. W. 1978 Quiche Conquest. University of New Mexico Press, Albuquerque.Google Scholar
Giauque, R. D., Garrett, R. B., and Goda, L. Y. 1977 Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometry for Determination of Twenty-six Trace and Two Major Elements in Geochemical Specimens. Analytical Chemistry 49:62–67.Google Scholar
Hammond, N. 1972 Obsidian Trade Routes in the Mayan Area. Science 178:1092–1093.Google Scholar
Heizer, R. F., Williams, H., and Graham, J. A. 1965 Notes on Mesoamerican Obsidians and Their Significance in Archaeological Studies. Contributions of the University of California Archaeological Research Facility 1:94–103. Berkeley.Google Scholar
Hester, T. R. 1972 Notes on Large Obsidian Blade Cores and Core-blade Technology in Mesoamerica. Contributions of the University of California Archaeological Research Facility 14:95–105. Berkeley.Google Scholar
Hurtado de Mendoza, L., and Jester, W. A. 1978 Obsidian Sources in Guatemala: A Regional Approach. American Antiquity 43:424–435.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jack, R. N., and Heizer, R. F. 1968 “Finger-printing” of Some Mesoamerican Obsidian Artifacts. Contributions of the University of California Archaeological Research Facility 5:81–100. Berkeley.Google Scholar
Perlman, I., and Asaro, F. 1969 Pottery Analysis by Neutron Activation. Archaeometry 11:21–52.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Perlman, I., and Asaro, F. 1971 Pottery Analysis by Neutron Activation. In Science and Archaeology, edited by Brill, Robert H., pp. 182–195. MIT Press, Cambridge, Mass.Google Scholar
Renfrew, C. Dixon, J. E., and Cann, J. R. 1966 Obsidian and Early Cultural Contact in the Near East. Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society 32(2):30–71.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sharer, R. J. 1978 Archaeology and History at Quirigua, Guatemala. Journal of Field Archaeology 5(1):51–70.Google Scholar
Sheets, P. D. 1978 Artifacts. In The Prehistory of Chalchuapa, El Salvador, edited by Sharer, R. J., vol. 2, pp. 1–131.University of Texas Press, Austin.Google Scholar
Sidrys, R., Andresen, J., and Marcucci, D. 1976 Obsidian Sources in the Maya Area. Journal of New World Archaeology 1(5):1–13.Google Scholar
Sidrys, R., Asaro, F., Michel, H. V., and Stross, F. H. 1975 Unpublished data on file at the Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley.Google Scholar
Stross, F. H., Asaro, F., Michel, H. V., and Gruhn, R. 1977 Sources of Some Obsidian Flakes from a Paleo-Indian Site in Guatemala. American Antiquity 42:114–118.Google Scholar
Stross, F. H., Bowman, H. R., Michel, H. V., Asaro, F., and Hammond, N. 1978 Mayan Obsidian Source Correlation for Southern Belize Artifacts. Archaeometry 20(1):89–93.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Stross, F. H. Hester, T. R., Heizer, R. F., and Jack, R. N. 1976 Chemical and Archaeological Studies of Mesoamerican Obsidian. In Advances in Obsidian Glass Studies, edited by Taylor, R. E., pp. 240–258. Noyes Press, Park Ridge, N.J. Google Scholar
Thompson, J. E. S. 1970 The Eastern Boundary of the Maya Area: Placements and Displacements. Maya History and Religion. University of Oklahoma Press, Norman.Google Scholar
Zeitlin, R. N., and Heimbuch, R. C. 1978 Trace Element Analysis and the Archaeological Study of Obsidian Procurement in PrecolumbianMesoamerica. In Lithics and Subsistence—the Analysis of Stone Tools Use in Prehistoric Economics, edited by Davis, D., pp. 117–159. Vanderbilt University, Publications in Anthropology #20. Nashville.Google Scholar