Obsidian volcanic origin

To test the feasibility of the portable XRF and to create a robust obsidian data set from an inland trade port/trans-shipment locale, we analyzed a number of Postclassic obsidian artifacts from Trinidad de Nosotros in the central Pet6n lakes region (Figure 1). Obsidian is ubiquitous in the archaeological record, and can be easily traced to its source area because each volcanic eruption that produces volcanic glass has a unique chemical composition. In Mesoamerica, most obsidian artifacts originate from about 40 known sources of which only about ten were heavily used by the Maya (/). 

This study involves obsidian, which is a volcanic glass used by ancient people to construct weapons, tools, and jewelry. Because the composition of this glass is quite homogenous, it is reasonable to assume that one could trace Indian artifacts recovered from archaeological sites to the quarry from where the volcanic glass was originally obtained. 

Obsidian is also interesting because it is available from only a few places, hmited by proximity to volcanic mountains and the chance of fonnation of a sihea flow. Most sources for obsidian are known because of their small number and the unusual nature of this material. It is also possible to fingerprint different flows of obsidian through minor differences in the chemical composition of the material. This chemical signature is specific to one source and allows pieces found elsewhere to be traced to the places where they originated. The sources of obsidian in the Near East, the Aegean area. North America, Mexico, and elsewhere, have been studied using these methods. 

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