The obsidian artifacts of Quelepa, El Salvador

GE Braswell, MD Glascock�- Ancient Mesoamerica, 1994 - cambridge.org
Ancient Mesoamerica, 1994cambridge.org
Nearly 600 obsidian artifacts dating from about 200 bc to ad 950 at Quelepa, El Salvador,
are assigned to geological source areas using visual criteria and an abbreviated neutron
activation analysis (NAA) technique. This combined methodology affords highly accurate
results, is inexpensive, and allows large collections to be sourced. Results of lithic analyses
describe the evolution of procurement and production strategies at the site. Despite the
location of the site on the far southeastern periphery of Mesoamerica, the lithic analyses�…
Nearly 600 obsidian artifacts dating from about 200 b.c. to a.d. 950 at Quelepa, El Salvador, are assigned to geological source areas using visual criteria and an abbreviated neutron activation analysis (NAA) technique. This combined methodology affords highly accurate results, is inexpensive, and allows large collections to be sourced. Results of lithic analyses describe the evolution of procurement and production strategies at the site. Despite the location of the site on the far southeastern periphery of Mesoamerica, the lithic analyses indicate that Quelepa participated in a Mesoamerican rather than Central American transference network.
Cambridge University Press