Obsidian Studies in the Old World: Recent Advances in Methods, Research Design, and Interpretation

Obsidian research in Europe, the Near East, and Africa has come a long way since the pioneering characterization work of Renfrew and others in the 1960s. In addition to new and improved analytical methods, and more complete knowledge of the various obsidian sources, the focus of modern research has shifted to emphasize the integration of provenance data with reduction technology and usewear information, and the interpretation of dynamic patterns of economic, social, and political change. Obsidian hydration dating has produced complementary information on taphonomic processes and artifact reuse, while advances in measurement and calibration have greatly improved its chronological accuracy.