Geologic origin of the source of Bearhead Rhyolite (Paliza Canyon) obsidian, Jemez Mountains, Northern New Mexico M. Steven Shackley1,* Fraser Goff2, Sean G. Dolan3 1Geoarchaeological XRF Laboratory, Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Department of Anthropology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque 87171,
[email protected] 2Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque 87171 3Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM 87545 *Corresponding author:
[email protected] Abstract Nelson 1987). It is important to note that these samples Recent field and analytical studies of what has been were from late Quaternary, valley bottom alluvium and traditionally called “Paliza Canyon obsidian” in the thus geologically reworked. The goal of our study was to archaeological vernacular show it to be Bearhead locate the primary geologic source of these samples. Rhyolite that is part of the Late Tertiary (Neogene) The original “Paliza Canyon” source was characterized Keres Group of the Jemez Mountains, northern New as a small-nodule Neogene source, based on the age Mexico. The geological origin of all other archae- of adjacent volcanic rocks and small nodule sizes (as ological obsidian sources in the Jemez Mountains opposed to large nodule Quaternary sources, such as have been reported and are well documented in Valles Rhyolite obsidian). The small nodule sizes likely the literature. But the so-called “Paliza Canyon” reflect hydration and perlitization of volcanic glass over source, important as a toolstone to Pueblo Revolt relatively long periods of geologic time. Known Neogene Colonial period occupants of the Jemez Mountains area and present in regional archaeological contexts and Quaternary sources of archaeological obsidian in the throughout prehistory, had remained unlocated and Jemez Mountains have been well dated and chemically, undocumented.