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A 1990s Perspective on Method and Theory in Archaeological Volcanic Glass Studies

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Archaeological Obsidian Studies

Part of the book series: Advances in Archaeological and Museum Science ((AAMS,volume 3))

Abstract

The commentary of this overview stems from reading seven papers in this volume on sourcing volcanic glasses found in archaeologial sites in a range of geographic regions throughout the world and two on using rhyolitic obsidian for hydration rim dating. One perspective developed from this exercise is historical and personal relating to the progress made in the last three decades in the field. Another highlight some of the variation in termonology applied by different analysts when speaking of sources and the material in them. A third has to do with reasonably successful procedures and techniques now being employed in both sourcing and independent age determinations from hydration rims. Finally, comments are directed at the need to connect these studies with cultural analyses and interpretations which focus on the debris from the source localities and whole site assemblages.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anthropology, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand

    R. C. Green

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  1. R. C. Green
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Phoebe Hearst Museum of Anthropology and Department of Anthropology, University of California, Berkeley, California, USA

    M. Steven Shackley

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© 1998 Springer Science+Business Media New York

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Green, R.C. (1998). A 1990s Perspective on Method and Theory in Archaeological Volcanic Glass Studies. In: Shackley, M.S. (eds) Archaeological Obsidian Studies. Advances in Archaeological and Museum Science, vol 3. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-9276-8_10

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-9276-8_10

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4757-9278-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4757-9276-8

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