A map of the Monte Arci (Sardinia Island, Western Mediterranean) obsidian primary to secondary sources. Implications for Neolithic provenance studies

Lugliè, Carlo; Bourdonnec, François‐Xavier Le; Poupeau, Gérard; Bohn, Marcel; Meloni, Sandro; Oddone, Massimo; Tanda, Gianluigi

doi:10.1016/j.crpv.2006.09.007

Cited by 38 publications

(31 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…These patterns of exploitation support a down-the-line model of obsidian trade during the neolithic period, but with chronological changes that are best explained by increased socioeconomic complexity. Further analyses and integration of sourcing data with lithic typology [19], usewear studies [38], and investigation and excavation of source localities and production workshops [12,39] will lead to better understanding of the role of obsidian in the prehistoric Mediterranean.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Obsidian Subsources Utilized at Sites in Southern Sardinia (Italy)

et al. 2007

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While geochemical analysis of obsidian artifacts is now widely applied around the world, both new instrumental methods and new research questions continue to be applied in archaeology. In the Mediterranean, many analytical methods have been employed and proven successful in distinguishing all of the island sources. In this study, results are presented from the virtually non-destructive, LA-ICP-MS multi-element analysis of 95 carefully selected obsidian artifacts from four neolithic period sites in southwestern Sardinia. The patterns of exploitation of specific Monte Arci obsidian subsources revealed in this study support a down-the-line model of obsidian trade during the neolithic period, but with chronological changes that are best explained by increased socioeconomic complexity.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Types SB1(a,b,c) and SB2 may be found in multiple outcrops on the western slopes, but in less concentrated quantities, and varies from transparent to opaque, sometimes with many phenocrysts. Type SC obsidian, which is black, opaque, and less glassy, is abundant in mainly secondary deposits on the east side of Monte Arci [7,11,12].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Obsidian Subsources Utilized at Sites in Southern Sardinia (Italy)

et al. 2007

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“…The lithic technotypology suggests that this site dates to the Late Neolithic, by which time much of the island was well-occupied by farming people with incipient territorial control, and who had craft and trade specialists. Lugliè et al (2006) have also done a detailed survey along the Rio Mogoro and Rio Mannu, and this brings up the very large issue of access in particular to the coastline of the Gulf of Oristano and the more open water of the Mediterranean. Were people who lived in and around Monte Arci collecting and bringing obsidian to the coast where it was transported further?…”

Section: Sardinia and Corsicamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A survey of the Monte Arci region in Sardinia by Maria Mackey identified the major outcrops, and analyses of an unspecified number of samples by XRF and NAA showed they could be distinguished by major and trace elements (Mackey and Warren 1983). An extensive survey of the geological sources of obsidian around Monte Arci was then conducted in the later 1980s (Tykot 1992(Tykot , 1997, and included the collection and analysis of a large number of samples from both primary and secondary deposits where obsidian may still be found in large sizes and quantities, and more accessible at lower altitudes (see also the study by Lugliè et al 2006, which expands on some obsidian found in secondary deposits). Analyses were conducted primarily using an electron microprobe, with 15-18 tiny samples mounted on a single 1-inch disk, further reducing the time and cost of the analysis and being minimally destructive to the artifacts.…”

Section: Geological Background Of Obsidian In the Central Mediterraneanmentioning

confidence: 99%

Obsidian Studies in the Prehistoric Central Mediterranean: After 50 Years, What Have We Learned and What Still Needs to Be Done?

Tykot

2017

Open Archaeology

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Obsidian sourcing studies have been conducted in the central Mediterranean for more than 50 years. Detailed studies have been done on the geological sources on four Italian islands, and many analytical methods have been used to successfully distinguish between them. The ability to conduct analyses using those minimally (LA-ICP-MS) or totally (XRF, pXRF) non-destructive to artifacts has led to >10,000 analyses just in the last decade. Along with the ability to assign artifacts to specific geological subsources, and an increased number of studies of techno-typology, this has allowed interpretations to be made about source access and territorial control, craft specialization and the chaîne opératoire, as well as the modes, frequency, and directions of movement and how that varied spacially and temporally. Obsidian especially from Lipari and from Monte Arci in Sardinia traveled hundreds of kilometers on a regular basis starting in the Early Neolithic. By the Late Neolithic, in some areas there was selection of specific obsidian sources and subsources, and differences in production methods and tool typology. Obsidian distribution and usage in the central Mediterranean continued over four-and-one-half millennia, in many areas well into the Bronze Age. There is much more still to do integrating these different studies, especially use-wear studies, along with those of lithic and other materials that also played a role in prehistoric transport and trade systems.

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“…Définir une « source » nécessite de replacer dans leurs environnements géographiques et géologiques les affleurements ou les dépôts d'obsidienne (Lugliè et al 2006 ;Binder et al 2011), pour distinguer la source « primaire » (roche en place), « sub-primaire » ou « secondaire », selon les déplacements sous les effets de l'érosion. Les études géochronologiques, géomorphologiques et les inventaires détaillés de terrain sont alors essentiels pour définir les lieux d'approvisionnements potentiels, leurs éventuelles relations génétiques et documenter les modalités d'exploitation possibles.…”

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