Obsidian characterization

Carter, T., Poupeau, G., Bressy, C. and Pearce, N.J.G. (2006). A new programme of obsidian characterization at Qatalhoyiik, Turkey. Journal of Archaeological Science 33 893-909. 

Dixon, J.E. (1976). Obsidian characterization studies in the Mediterranean and Near East. In Advances in Obsidian Glass Studies, ed. Taylor, R.E., Noyes Press, Park Ridge, New Jersey, pp. 288-333. 

Gratuze, B. (1999). Obsidian characterization by laser ablation ICP-MS and its application to prehistoric trade in the Mediterranean and the Near East sources and distribution of obsidian within the Aegean and Anatolia. Journal of Archaeological Science 26 869-881. 

Archaeologists have long sought methods for obsidian characterization that were rapid, reliable, non-destructive, and low-cost. Among the various methods investigated were visual techniques (79), density measurements (20), magnetic properties (27), thermoluminescence (22), fission-track analysis (25), Mossbauer spectroscopy (24), and natural radioactivity (25). Although some of the methods occasionally identified differences between sources, the overlap between sources was such that their overall reliability was unsatisfactory. The most successful method of characterization for obsidian provenance research has been compositional analysis (26). 

G.E. Coote, N.E. Whitehead, G.J. McCallum, Rapid method of obsidian characterization by inelastic-scattering of protons, J. Radioanal. Chem. 12 (1972) 491-496. 

J.R. Bird, L.H. Russell, W.R. Ambrose, M.D. Scott, Obsidian characterized with elemental analysis by proton induced y-ray emission, Anal. Chem. 50 (14) (1978) 2082-2084. 

Lytle FW, Pingitore NE Jr (2002) Iron valence in the hydration layer of obsidian characterization by X-ray absorption spectroscopy. Microchemical J 71 185-191... 

Obsidian characterization at a Neolithic site in central Anatolia... 

---