Abstract
During the past twenty years, PIXE-PIGME analyses of the elemental composition of obsidian have made significant contributions to the study of resource use and distribution in the western Pacific region. More recently, detailed recording and systematic sampling of obsidian exposures combined with enhancements in the characterization technique itself have led to much finer discrimination between sources in New Britain. As a result of these advances, over 1200 archaeological samples from a large suite of sites on New Britain and other islands has been assigned to their sources. The archaeological research and the extensive characterization study reported here have revealed major changes in the exploitation of New Britain obsidian during the past 20,000 years. It is concluded that the advantages of PIXE-PIGME as a rapid, nondestructive technique for sourcing obsidian merit its wider use in archaeology.
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Summerhayes, G.R., Bird, J.R., Fullagar, R., Gosden, C., Specht, J., Torrence, R. (1998). Application of PIXE-PIGME to Archaeological Analysis of Changing Patterns of Obsidian Use in West New Britain, Papua New Guinea. 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_6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-9276-8_6
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