X-ray Fluorescence Analysis of Obsidian Artifacts from Cheshmeh Ali, Iran

Abstract

Ir Cons Sci J 2017; 1(1): 1-5Rare Prehistoric obsidian Artifacts have been found in Central Plateau of Iran. late Neolithic and Chalcolithic Societies in this region had progressive industry and glory independent culture is known as Cheshme Ali culture -fine red pottery culture -which spread out North East of Iran and Turkmenistan. Obsidian provenance study of this culture is very important to determine trade routes and interactive relations with Anatolia and Mesopotemia as cradle of civilization. The famous Cheshme Ali site near Tehran has been excavated by Erich Schmidt 1934-1936 and findings have been kept by University of Pennsylvania Museum. Nine lithic artifacts from this site were submitted to Archaeometry Laboratory of the University of Missouri Research Reactor (MURR) for analysis by non-destructive X-ray fluorescence (XRF). Eight of the Cheshmeh Ali artifacts were obsidian and were discovered to be from sources located in Turkey and Armenia. The ninth artifact was found not to be an obsidian, but instead was made from chert.

Altica, Coapexco, and the Role of Middlemen in Formative Obsidian Exchange

“…Compared to other methods of geochemical sourcing, such as instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) and laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS), pXRF is a cost-effective and non-destructive technique that can be conducted in a variety of laboratory or field settings (Ebert et al 2015; Glascock 2011). Technological analysis of the Altica samples was also conducted at Penn State, but the geochemical source analysis of 69 of these fragments had previously been performed at the Research Reactor Laboratory at the University of Missouri (Glascock 2013; Stoner et al 2015).…”

“…This study considers 582 obsidian fragments from the Altica surface collection, of which 289 were geochemically sourced at the University of Missouri Research Reactor (MURR) (Glascock 2013).…”

Interregional Interaction in Ancient Mesoamerica

“…Following the 2009 fieldwork at La Consentida, forty obsidian flakes were selected for X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) sourcing analysis at the University of Missouri Archaeometry Laboratory (MURR) (Glascock 2011;Hepp 2011b;Williams 2012: 92-97). These artifacts were largely from fill, redeposited midden, and burial fill contexts.…”

Fuente de obsidiana El Peceño: primeros resultados de su abordaje tecnológico, geoquímico y espacial

“…En el año 2009 relevamientos asistemáticos en el sector suroeste del cerro permitieron una mejor caracterización geoquímica de ambas señales, sin avanzar sobre la posición espacial. Desde el punto de vista geoquímico, la subdivisión de los grupos químicos está basada en la concentración diferencial de circonio (Zr) (Glascock 2010). En 2015 se comenzó con el muestreo espacial sistemático del cerro Peceño con el objetivo de avanzar con la caracterización espacial, arqueológica y geoquímica de la fuente de aprovisionamiento.…”

“…Al contar con antecedentes arqueométricos de la fuente El Peceño Glascock 2010), en este trabajo sólo se aplicó la técnica no destructiva de Fluorescencia de Rayos-X (XRF). Para la selección de las muestras se tuvo en cuenta su variación macroscópica y, en los casos que fue posible, su disposición en la matriz natural o afloramiento.…”