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Non-Destructive Pxrf on Prehistoric Obsidian Artifacts from the Central Mediterranean

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Non-Destructive Pxrf on Prehistoric Obsidian Artifacts from the Central Mediterranean applied sciences Article Non-Destructive pXRF on Prehistoric Obsidian Artifacts from the Central Mediterranean Robert H. Tykot Department of Anthropology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620, USA; [email protected]; Tel.: +1-813-974-7279 Featured Application: The use of non-destructive, portable XRF instruments has expanded tremen- dously the elemental analyses of archaeological materials. This has revolutionized the data now available for our understanding of obsidian trade, maritime capabilities, and socioeconomic sys- tems in the prehistoric central Mediterranean. Abstract: Volcanic obsidian was widely used in ancient times for stone tools, with its highly glassy nature making it sharper than other lithics for cutting purposes. In Europe and the Mediterranean, there are just several island sources, and a few in one inland region, all having been used since the beginning of the Neolithic period, ca. 6000 BCE. Maritime transport was necessary for access to the Italian and Greek island sources, with the distribution of artifacts over distances up to 1000 km. While elemental analyses were used for identifying specific sources starting in the 1960s, the development of non-destructive and especially portable X-ray fluorescence spectrometers has revolutionized the number of artifacts tested since 2010, allowing statistically significant numbers for potential compar- isons based on variables including time period, open-water distance, visual and physical properties, and cultural contexts. One overall accomplishment is the documentation of long-distance travel routes in the Tyrrhenian and Adriatic Seas of the central Mediterranean, based on the distribution Citation: Tykot, R.H. proportions and quantity of obsidian artifacts from different geological sources, apparently following Non-Destructive pXRF on Prehistoric a down-the-line prehistoric exchange system. The spread of Palmarola obsidian is much greater Obsidian Artifacts from the Central than previously thought, while in Malta, Pantelleria obsidian was specifically selected for burial Mediterranean. Appl. Sci. 2021, 11, accompaniments on Gozo. 7459. https://doi.org/10.3390/ app11167459 Keywords: obsidian; sourcing; trade and exchange; pXRF; trace elements; Italy; central Mediter- Academic Editor: Marco Martini ranean; Neolithic; prehistory Received: 11 July 2021 Accepted: 11 August 2021 Published: 13 August 2021 1. Introduction Volcanic obsidian was widely used in ancient times for stone tools, with its highly Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral glassy nature making it sharper than other lithics for cutting purposes. In Europe and the with regard to jurisdictional claims in Mediterranean, there are just several island sources in Italy and Greece, and a few in the published maps and institutional affil- inland Carpathian region, all having been used by the beginning of the Neolithic period, iations. ca. 6000 BCE. Maritime transport was necessary for access to the island sources, while other materials would have been moved in opposite directions. Obsidian was likely a small part of this exchange system. The location and geological studies for each of the sources goes back to the early 20th century, while the ability to chemically identify specific sources Copyright: © 2021 by the author. began in the 1960s. The development of non-destructive and especially portable X-ray Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. fluorescence spectrometers has revolutionized the number of artifacts tested since 2010, This article is an open access article providing new interpretations of obsidian selection and use, which changed over time. distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons 2. History of Obsidian Attribution (CC BY) license (https:// The modern word “obsidian” comes from the name of a Roman explorer, Obsius, who creativecommons.org/licenses/by/ saw extensive geological quantities in Ethiopia [1], although obsidian sources on Italian 4.0/). Appl. Sci. 2021, 11, 7459. https://doi.org/10.3390/app11167459 https://www.mdpi.com/journal/applsci Appl. Sci. 2021, 11, x FOR PEER REVIEW 2 of 19 Appl. Sci. 2021, 11, 7459 2. History of Obsidian 2 of 19 The modern word “obsidian” comes from the name of a Roman explorer, Obsius, who saw extensive geological quantities in Ethiopia [1], although obsidian sources on Ital- ianislands, islands, including including Lipari Lipari and Sardiniaand Sardinia and on and the on Greek the islandGreek ofisland Melos, of hadMelos, been had used been for usedthousands for thousands of years andof years were and already were well already known well from known their from wide their usage. wide usage. Obsidian is an igneous glassy rock, formed during volcanic eruptions during the past 20 millionmillion years,years, which which fractures fractures conchoidally. conchoidally. It is It typically is typically an extrusive an extrusive rock formedrock formed along alongthe edges the edges of viscous of viscous lava flows, lava flows, in a volcanic in a volcanic dome, dome, or when or itwhen cools it whilecools airborne.while airborne. Some Somesources sources are intrusive, are intrusive, formed formed at the edges at the of edges dikes of or dikes sills. Obsidianor sills. Obsidian may be foundmay be in found many inparts many of theparts world, of the but world, only but incertain only in geological certain geological regions regions where the where magma the magma composition com- wasposition rhyolitic was rhyolitic (or in some (or casesin some basaltic). cases basaltic). Overall, Overall, the production the production of insufficient of insufficient sizes to sizesmake to stone make tools stone (at tools least (at a few least centimeters), a few centim theeters), presence the presence of gas vesicles of gas vesicles trapped trapped during duringformation formation (e.g., pumice), (e.g., pumice), or the breakdown or the breakdown over time over of unstable time of unstable glass with glass phenocryst with phe- or nocrystspherulite or spherulite crystalline crystalline formations formations limit the number limit the of number sources of used sources in antiquity used in toantiquity certain tomountainous certain mountainous terrestrial terrestrial areas and areas volcanically and volcanically formed islands formed (Figure islands1). (Figure 1). Figure 1. Map showing many of the obsidian source locations used in antiquity. Obsidian was widely used for cutting and scraping tools during the Old and New Stone Ages, starting in the Lower Paleolithic by early Homo (ca.(ca. 1.75 million years ago) and continuing until until recently recently in in some some parts parts of of the the world world [2]. [2 ].Due Due to toits itshigher higher level level of sharpness,of sharpness, compared compared to chert to chert (flint), (flint), quartzite, quartzite, and other and other stone stonetool material, tool material, it was itinten- was tionallyintentionally acquired, acquired, flaked flakedto produce to produce broken brokenedges, transported, edges, transported, and traded and over traded distances over ofdistances 1000 km of or 1000 more km within or more the within central the Mediterranean central Mediterranean [3]. The preparation [3]. The preparation of cores was of generallycores was generallydone near done the neargeological the geological source, source,with blades with blades and other and other tools tools produced produced by trainedby trained lithic lithic workers workers at atmany many of ofthe the distant distant archaeological archaeological sites sites (Figure (Figure 22).). FindingsFindings ofof obsidian artifactsartifacts atat mainlandmainland sites sites in in Greece Greece and and Italy, Italy, from from island island geological geological sources sources in the in theMediterranean, Mediterranean, infers infers the the development development of maritime of maritime travel travel by theby the late late Upper Upper Paleolithic Paleolithic [4] [4]of atofleast at least simple simple crafts, crafts, to more to more complex complex vessels vessels by the by Earlythe Early Bronze Bronze Age Age (3rd (3rd millennium millen- niumBCE); BCE); the earliest the earliest remains remains found found in the in Mediterranean the Mediterranean of open-water of open-water boats boats (or drawings) (or draw- ings)are only are moreonly more recent. recent. Obsidian Obsidian is still is usedstill used today today for surgical for surgical procedures procedures (including (including eye eyeand and heart), heart), due due to its to greaterits greater sharpness sharpness and an fasterd faster healing healing process, process, compared compared to stainlessto stain- lesssteel steel scalpels scalpels (just (just search search online online for a for commercial a commercial scalpel scalpel vendor). vendor). Obsidian Obsidian was also was used also usedfor polished for polished mirror mirror surfaces, surfaces, and for and jewelry for jewelry in certain in certain cultures cultures even today.even today. Appl. Sci. 2021, 11, 7459 3 of 19 Appl. Sci. 2021, 11, x FOR PEER REVIEW 3 of 19 FigureFigure 2.2. ExampleExample ofof NeolithicNeolithic obsidianobsidian bladeblade toolstools fromfrom Sicily.Sicily. ScaleScale inin centimeters. centimeters. MostMost stonestone toolstools wouldwould havehave beenbeen mountedmounted onon woodwood oror bonebone handleshandles (rarely(rarely preserved). preserved). InIn additionaddition toto thethe sizesize ofof naturalnatural obsidianobsidian blocks,blocks, andand thethe quantityquantity producedproduced inin aa geologicalgeological sourcesource
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