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Sourcing archaeological obsidian by an abbreviated NAA procedure

  • Nuclear Analytical Methods in Geological and Archaeological Studies
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Abstract

An abbreviated NAA procedure has been developed to fingerprint obsidian artifacts in the Mesoamerican region. Despite the large number of available sources, an NAA procedure, which relies on producing short-lived isotopes, has been applied with a success rate greater than 90 percent. The abbreviated NAA procedure is rapid and cost competitive with the XRF technique more often applied in obsidian sourcing. Results from the analysis of over 1,200 obsidian artifacts from throughout Mesoamerica are presented.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Missouri University Research Reactor, 65211, Columbia, MO, (USA)

    M. D. Glascock, H. Neff, K. S. Stryker & T. N. Johnson

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  1. M. D. Glascock
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  2. H. Neff
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  3. K. S. Stryker
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  4. T. N. Johnson
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Glascock, M.D., Neff, H., Stryker, K.S. et al. Sourcing archaeological obsidian by an abbreviated NAA procedure. Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, Articles 180, 29–35 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02039899

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02039899

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