Based on a simple model of lithic procurement, reduction, and use, we generate predictions for pa... more Based on a simple model of lithic procurement, reduction, and use, we generate predictions for patterns in source diversity and average distance-to-source measurements for flaked stone assemblages left behind by small-scale and residentially mobile populations. We apply this model to geochemical data from obsidian artifacts from three regions in western North America. As predicted, results show markedly different patterns in the geochemical composition of small flakes, large flakes, and formal tools. While small flakes and tools tend to have greater source diversity and are on average farther from their original source, the large flake assemblage is composed of fewer and closer sources. These results suggest that a failure to include very late stage reduction (e.g., pressure flakes) and microdebitage in characterization studies may bias interpretations about the extent of residential mobility and/or trade patterns because more distant sources will be underrepresented.
Widestem points are to some degree common at the Witt Site (Ca-Kin-32) locality of Tulare Lake. W... more Widestem points are to some degree common at the Witt Site (Ca-Kin-32) locality of Tulare Lake. Within the Hopkins collection, there are 101 examples of widestem points that were complete enough to allow classification. These artifacts were manufactured from a variety of toolstone materials. Most of these points were fashioned from locally available chert (cryptocrystalline silicate = ccs) and other materials (fine grained volcanics = fgv) including basalt, fine grained igneous (aka rhyolite), quartz (crystal, milk white and rose) and quartzite (n = 65) along with (n = 36) specimens made of obsidian (obs). Virtually identical point forms to the Tulare Lake Widestems are recognized from Northern California and are identified at the Borax Lake Site (CA-LAK-36) and in the larger vicinity of the Clear Lake region. Those North Coast Range projectile point forms (known as Borax Lake Widestem Points) appear to overlap in age with both fluted points and crescents, but continue to be employed until a more recent era discontinuing at a time estimated to be 6,000 years cal b.p. In the present study, we formally classify Tulare Lake Widestem Point forms from Tulare Lake found within the Witt locality and determine whether they are of comparable age to other early Holocene artifacts recovered from Borax Lake. The entire sample of formally classifiable Tulare Lake Widestem Points manufactured from obsidian was analyzed to both chemically characterize these artifacts as to provenience (geographic source) and to determine their obsidian hydration measurements. Obsidian studies appear to date the Tulare Lake Widestem Points to an average age of 8,250 calibrated years before present. Applying a single standard deviation added to that mean or average provides a time range for the bulk of the Tulare Lake Widestem assemblage from ca. 7,500 to 9,000 years ago. Source determinations for Tulare Lake Widestem show that imported obsidian was coming from Fish Springs, Coso, Annadel and Casa Diablo obsidian sources. Most of the obsidian Widestems at Tulare Lake came from the Casa Diablo suite of obsidian sources. This obsidian toolstone contributes a significant portion to the Widestem assemblage and testifies to long range movement and the value of the imported toolstone to the indigenous people who occupied Tulare Lake.
ABSTRACT Eight geochemical obsidian sources, six of which were correlated with known or previousl... more ABSTRACT Eight geochemical obsidian sources, six of which were correlated with known or previously recognized sources, were identified among the 132 obsidian artifacts that were characterized by X-ray fluorescence analysis (Table 1). The locations of the site and the identified obsidian sources are shown in Figure 1 while descriptive information about the identified obsidian source is presented in Table 2. Analytical results are summarized in Figure 2 and are presented in Table A-1 in the Appendix. Two of the geochemical groups, the Butte Creek and Clackamas River sources, have been previously identified among characterized artifact collections. The primary source locations for both these groups, however, remains unknown at the present time. In the current investigation, 30 of the 47 artifacts correlated with the Butte Creek source retained at least a trace of original surface cortex. The cortex on all specimens was angular and mechanically unmodified by transport processes, suggesting procurement at or very near the primary source of the material. This evidence, when combined with the large
Use of inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICPMS) coupled to a laser-ablation sample in... more Use of inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICPMS) coupled to a laser-ablation sample introduction system (LA-ICP-MS) as a minimally destructive method for chemical characterization of archaeological materials has gained favor during the past few years. Although still a relatively new analytical tectmique in archaeology, LA-ICP-MS has been demonstrated to be a productive avenue of research for chemical characterization of obsidian, chert, pottery, painted and glazed surfaces, and human bone and teeth. Archaeological applications of LA-ICP-MS and comparisons with other analytical methods are described.
Excavations at Moundville in the 1930s and 1940s were reported to have produced several obsidian ... more Excavations at Moundville in the 1930s and 1940s were reported to have produced several obsidian artifacts from widely separated areas. Since the presence of these artifacts potentially can important information on the nature and scale of prehistoric exchange in the Southeast and beyond, archival research and chemical sourcing techniques were carried out to determine the authenticity and geological sources for these artifacts.
Obsidian has been recognized throughout the world as an important trade commodity in societies de... more Obsidian has been recognized throughout the world as an important trade commodity in societies dependent on lithic tools, in regions as diverse as America, obsidian and other goods were distributed via a far-reaching trade network, involving the Columbia and Fraser river systems and the intervening coastal zone from southern British Columbia to) note commonalities in exotic materials, crafted prestige items, marine shell ornaments, and sculpted bone and stone artifacts throughout a " Plateau Interaction Sphere, " distributed between important economic centers, including principal exchange nodes at The Dalles on the lower Columbia River and at the Thompson-Fraser river confluence in southern British Columbia. Taking a coastal perspective, Ames and Maschner (1999:170) similarly note a southern Northwest Coast " obsidian exchange network " that includes lands bordering the Salish Sea (Gulf of Georgia-Strait of Juan de Fuca-Puget Sound), and extending south to the lo...
In regions where obsidian was abundant, large quantities of the volcanic glass were used by prehi... more In regions where obsidian was abundant, large quantities of the volcanic glass were used by prehistoric peoples to manufacture sharp-edged stone tools. By employing a variety of analytical techniques, these tools are examined by present-day archaeologists to study ancient culture and trade patterns. The geochemical properties of obsidian make it ideal for archaeologists who are interested in the sourcing and
Thirty-one obsidian and eight fine-grained volcanic (FGV) artifacts from the Odell Lake site, Kla... more Thirty-one obsidian and eight fine-grained volcanic (FGV) artifacts from the Odell Lake site, Klamath County, Oregon, were subjected to energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence trace element provenance analysis. Twenty-eight of the specimens were also processed for hydration rim measurements. The samples were prepared and analyzed at the Northwest Research Obsidian Studies Laboratory under the accession number 2008-27. Analytical Methods X-Ray Fluorescence
... exhibit a much higher cortex frequency than late stage bifacial reduction and tool ... This c... more ... exhibit a much higher cortex frequency than late stage bifacial reduction and tool ... This compositegeochemical source consists of several geochemically indistinguishable (using XRF methods) post ... but it is not clear if this is fortuitous preservation or a prehistoric caching strategy. ...
Based on a simple model of lithic procurement, reduction, and use, we generate predictions for pa... more Based on a simple model of lithic procurement, reduction, and use, we generate predictions for patterns in source diversity and average distance-to-source measurements for flaked stone assemblages left behind by small-scale and residentially mobile populations. We apply this model to geochemical data from obsidian artifacts from three regions in western North America. As predicted, results show markedly different patterns in the geochemical composition of small flakes, large flakes, and formal tools. While small flakes and tools tend to have greater source diversity and are on average farther from their original source, the large flake assemblage is composed of fewer and closer sources. These results suggest that a failure to include very late stage reduction (e.g., pressure flakes) and microdebitage in characterization studies may bias interpretations about the extent of residential mobility and/or trade patterns because more distant sources will be underrepresented.
Widestem points are to some degree common at the Witt Site (Ca-Kin-32) locality of Tulare Lake. W... more Widestem points are to some degree common at the Witt Site (Ca-Kin-32) locality of Tulare Lake. Within the Hopkins collection, there are 101 examples of widestem points that were complete enough to allow classification. These artifacts were manufactured from a variety of toolstone materials. Most of these points were fashioned from locally available chert (cryptocrystalline silicate = ccs) and other materials (fine grained volcanics = fgv) including basalt, fine grained igneous (aka rhyolite), quartz (crystal, milk white and rose) and quartzite (n = 65) along with (n = 36) specimens made of obsidian (obs). Virtually identical point forms to the Tulare Lake Widestems are recognized from Northern California and are identified at the Borax Lake Site (CA-LAK-36) and in the larger vicinity of the Clear Lake region. Those North Coast Range projectile point forms (known as Borax Lake Widestem Points) appear to overlap in age with both fluted points and crescents, but continue to be employed until a more recent era discontinuing at a time estimated to be 6,000 years cal b.p. In the present study, we formally classify Tulare Lake Widestem Point forms from Tulare Lake found within the Witt locality and determine whether they are of comparable age to other early Holocene artifacts recovered from Borax Lake. The entire sample of formally classifiable Tulare Lake Widestem Points manufactured from obsidian was analyzed to both chemically characterize these artifacts as to provenience (geographic source) and to determine their obsidian hydration measurements. Obsidian studies appear to date the Tulare Lake Widestem Points to an average age of 8,250 calibrated years before present. Applying a single standard deviation added to that mean or average provides a time range for the bulk of the Tulare Lake Widestem assemblage from ca. 7,500 to 9,000 years ago. Source determinations for Tulare Lake Widestem show that imported obsidian was coming from Fish Springs, Coso, Annadel and Casa Diablo obsidian sources. Most of the obsidian Widestems at Tulare Lake came from the Casa Diablo suite of obsidian sources. This obsidian toolstone contributes a significant portion to the Widestem assemblage and testifies to long range movement and the value of the imported toolstone to the indigenous people who occupied Tulare Lake.
ABSTRACT Eight geochemical obsidian sources, six of which were correlated with known or previousl... more ABSTRACT Eight geochemical obsidian sources, six of which were correlated with known or previously recognized sources, were identified among the 132 obsidian artifacts that were characterized by X-ray fluorescence analysis (Table 1). The locations of the site and the identified obsidian sources are shown in Figure 1 while descriptive information about the identified obsidian source is presented in Table 2. Analytical results are summarized in Figure 2 and are presented in Table A-1 in the Appendix. Two of the geochemical groups, the Butte Creek and Clackamas River sources, have been previously identified among characterized artifact collections. The primary source locations for both these groups, however, remains unknown at the present time. In the current investigation, 30 of the 47 artifacts correlated with the Butte Creek source retained at least a trace of original surface cortex. The cortex on all specimens was angular and mechanically unmodified by transport processes, suggesting procurement at or very near the primary source of the material. This evidence, when combined with the large
Use of inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICPMS) coupled to a laser-ablation sample in... more Use of inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICPMS) coupled to a laser-ablation sample introduction system (LA-ICP-MS) as a minimally destructive method for chemical characterization of archaeological materials has gained favor during the past few years. Although still a relatively new analytical tectmique in archaeology, LA-ICP-MS has been demonstrated to be a productive avenue of research for chemical characterization of obsidian, chert, pottery, painted and glazed surfaces, and human bone and teeth. Archaeological applications of LA-ICP-MS and comparisons with other analytical methods are described.
Excavations at Moundville in the 1930s and 1940s were reported to have produced several obsidian ... more Excavations at Moundville in the 1930s and 1940s were reported to have produced several obsidian artifacts from widely separated areas. Since the presence of these artifacts potentially can important information on the nature and scale of prehistoric exchange in the Southeast and beyond, archival research and chemical sourcing techniques were carried out to determine the authenticity and geological sources for these artifacts.
Obsidian has been recognized throughout the world as an important trade commodity in societies de... more Obsidian has been recognized throughout the world as an important trade commodity in societies dependent on lithic tools, in regions as diverse as America, obsidian and other goods were distributed via a far-reaching trade network, involving the Columbia and Fraser river systems and the intervening coastal zone from southern British Columbia to) note commonalities in exotic materials, crafted prestige items, marine shell ornaments, and sculpted bone and stone artifacts throughout a " Plateau Interaction Sphere, " distributed between important economic centers, including principal exchange nodes at The Dalles on the lower Columbia River and at the Thompson-Fraser river confluence in southern British Columbia. Taking a coastal perspective, Ames and Maschner (1999:170) similarly note a southern Northwest Coast " obsidian exchange network " that includes lands bordering the Salish Sea (Gulf of Georgia-Strait of Juan de Fuca-Puget Sound), and extending south to the lo...
In regions where obsidian was abundant, large quantities of the volcanic glass were used by prehi... more In regions where obsidian was abundant, large quantities of the volcanic glass were used by prehistoric peoples to manufacture sharp-edged stone tools. By employing a variety of analytical techniques, these tools are examined by present-day archaeologists to study ancient culture and trade patterns. The geochemical properties of obsidian make it ideal for archaeologists who are interested in the sourcing and
Thirty-one obsidian and eight fine-grained volcanic (FGV) artifacts from the Odell Lake site, Kla... more Thirty-one obsidian and eight fine-grained volcanic (FGV) artifacts from the Odell Lake site, Klamath County, Oregon, were subjected to energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence trace element provenance analysis. Twenty-eight of the specimens were also processed for hydration rim measurements. The samples were prepared and analyzed at the Northwest Research Obsidian Studies Laboratory under the accession number 2008-27. Analytical Methods X-Ray Fluorescence
... exhibit a much higher cortex frequency than late stage bifacial reduction and tool ... This c... more ... exhibit a much higher cortex frequency than late stage bifacial reduction and tool ... This compositegeochemical source consists of several geochemically indistinguishable (using XRF methods) post ... but it is not clear if this is fortuitous preservation or a prehistoric caching strategy. ...
Archaeological sites within the Great
Basin and California appear to demonstrate that
human occup... more Archaeological sites within the Great Basin and California appear to demonstrate that human occupation occurred in late Pleistocene and early Holocene times from ca. 12,000 to 6,000 B.C. A prominent locality for Paleoindian material is Lake China. Thousands of artifacts dot the fossil shoreline on the desert floor of eastern Kern County at the interface of the Mojave Desert and the Great Basin near Ridgecrest (Davis 1978). In Central California, projectile points hypothesized to date from these periods have been discovered in abundance at the Witt locality (CA-Kin- 32) on the southwest margins of Tulare Lake in Kings County in the southern San Joaquin Valley (Dillon 2002, Moratto 2000; Riddell and Olsen 1969; Wallace 1991). Some of these artifacts are basally thinned, Concave Base points (over 500). These projectiles are similar to Clovis points but are often smaller, somewhat thinner, are pressure rather than percussion flaked, and, most often, lack the distinguishing flutes (Rondeau 2005a, 2005b; Rondeau et al. 2007; Wallace 1991; West et al. 1991). The range of variation for these points, typically assigned to the Great Basin Concave Base Series, has not been clearly defined. The Tulare Lake points appear to be a local variant of this same tradition. Until recently, no direct dates for the flaked stone materials found at either locality have been published (yet, see Basgall 2003, 2005a, 2005b). An indirect means of obtaining such temporal parameters is the use of obsidian tracing and hydration dating. Thirty-eight (38) artifacts from China (n = 5) and Tulare (n = 33) Lakes were chemically characterized to source and analyzed for their hydration measurements. Results of these studies indicate that obsidian hydration dating is a useful tool even for very ancient artifacts of volcanic glass. Obsidian tracing and dating indicate that Concave Base points are partly contemporaneous with Clovis age artifacts, although they have a far lengthier duration dating from ca. 13,500 to 10,000 years cal before present (BP). Great Basin Stemmed Series points are of more recent age dating from ca. 11,000 to 7,000 years cal BP. Eccentric crescents are apparently coeval with both Concave Base and Great Basin Stemmed Series points and have a lengthy temporal span from 13,500 to 7,000 years cal BP. Tracing studies of the early obsidian implements from Tulare Lake, in this study, indicate that Concave Base tradition foragers were far more mobile than the Great Basin Stemmed Series cultural expression. Obsidian originated from no less than six (6) different source localities from 100 to 250 miles distant. These late Pleistocene hunter-gatherers traversed enormous foraging territories and either directly accessed or traded for volcanic glass and fused shale from the Napa Valley, Casa
Diablo, Coso, Mount Hicks, Mono Glass Mountain, Queen, and Grimes Canyon sources. Later, early Holocene Stemmed Series peoples had a smaller, more limited foraging radius and more protracted mobility patterns procuring only Coso and Casa Diablo volcanic glass sources.
Page 1. Chapter 15 Selected Applications of Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectr... more Page 1. Chapter 15 Selected Applications of Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry to Archaeological Research Robert J. Speakman1, Michael D. Glascock1, Robert H. Tykot2, Christophe Descantes3 ...
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Basin and California appear to demonstrate that
human occupation occurred in late Pleistocene
and early Holocene times from ca. 12,000 to
6,000 B.C. A prominent locality for Paleoindian
material is Lake China. Thousands of artifacts
dot the fossil shoreline on the desert floor of eastern
Kern County at the interface of the Mojave
Desert and the Great Basin near Ridgecrest
(Davis 1978).
In Central California, projectile points hypothesized
to date from these periods have been
discovered in abundance at the Witt locality (CA-Kin-
32) on the southwest margins of Tulare Lake
in Kings County in the southern San Joaquin Valley
(Dillon 2002, Moratto 2000; Riddell and
Olsen 1969; Wallace 1991). Some of these artifacts
are basally thinned, Concave Base points
(over 500). These projectiles are similar to Clovis
points but are often smaller, somewhat thinner,
are pressure rather than percussion flaked, and,
most often, lack the distinguishing flutes (Rondeau
2005a, 2005b; Rondeau et al. 2007; Wallace
1991; West et al. 1991). The range of variation
for these points, typically assigned to the
Great Basin Concave Base Series, has not been
clearly defined. The Tulare Lake points appear to
be a local variant of this same tradition.
Until recently, no direct dates for the flaked
stone materials found at either locality have been
published (yet, see Basgall 2003, 2005a, 2005b).
An indirect means of obtaining such temporal parameters
is the use of obsidian tracing and hydration
dating. Thirty-eight (38) artifacts from
China (n = 5) and Tulare (n = 33) Lakes were
chemically characterized to source and analyzed
for their hydration measurements. Results of
these studies indicate that obsidian hydration dating
is a useful tool even for very ancient artifacts
of volcanic glass. Obsidian tracing and dating indicate
that Concave Base points are partly contemporaneous
with Clovis age artifacts, although
they have a far lengthier duration dating from ca.
13,500 to 10,000 years cal before present (BP).
Great Basin Stemmed Series points are of more recent
age dating from ca. 11,000 to 7,000 years
cal BP. Eccentric crescents are apparently coeval
with both Concave Base and Great Basin
Stemmed Series points and have a lengthy temporal
span from 13,500 to 7,000 years cal BP.
Tracing studies of the early obsidian implements
from Tulare Lake, in this study, indicate
that Concave Base tradition foragers were far
more mobile than the Great Basin Stemmed Series
cultural expression. Obsidian originated from no less
than six (6) different source localities from 100 to
250 miles distant. These late Pleistocene hunter-gatherers
traversed enormous foraging territories
and either directly accessed or traded for volcanic
glass and fused shale from the Napa Valley, Casa
Diablo, Coso, Mount Hicks, Mono Glass Mountain,
Queen, and Grimes Canyon sources. Later,
early Holocene Stemmed Series peoples had a
smaller, more limited foraging radius and more
protracted mobility patterns procuring only Coso
and Casa Diablo volcanic glass sources.