Abstract
Analyses of stone tools are most often conducted to obtain provenance information or determine the time of site occupation. As outlined in the following section, there is a long history of provenance studies of obsidian. Recent studies in South America show geochronological techniques can aid in the discrimination of obsidian sources with similar composition. Although the composition of chert is more variable, a recent study has demonstrated that valuable information can be garnered by applying a range of techniques. Compositional studies of andesite, dacite, basalt, and rhyolite have also been conducted. While trace element compositions are frequently used to characterize lithic materials, provenience studies of steatite and turquoise demonstrate other strategies may be more suitable for materials with highly variable compositions.
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Malainey, M.E. (2011). Flaked and Ground Stone Tools. In: A Consumer's Guide to Archaeological Science. Manuals in Archaeological Method, Theory and Technique. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-5704-7_18
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-5704-7_18
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