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Laboratory Obsidian Hydration Rates

Theory, Method, and Application

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Archaeological Obsidian Studies

Part of the book series: Advances in Archaeological and Museum Science ((AAMS,volume 3))

Abstract

The development of laboratory hydration rates is considered to be the most promising approach for the chronometric dating of obsidian artifacts. The technical aspects of accelerated hydration, hydration rim measurement, and the determination of effective hydration temperature and soil relative humidity are reviewed. It is proposed that glass hydration is controlled primarily by the amount of intrinsic water contained within the unhydrated obsidian and that rates of hydration may be estimated once the concentration level is known. The ability of the intrinsic water model to produce age determinations compatible with other chronometric methods is examined with a case example from Xaltocan, Mexico.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Archaeological Services Consultants, Columbus, Ohio, USA

    Christopher M. Stevenson

  2. Chemical Technology Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, Illinois, USA

    James J. Mazer

  3. Materials Research Laboratory, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA

    Barry E. Scheetz

Authors
  1. Christopher M. Stevenson
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  2. James J. Mazer
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  3. Barry E. Scheetz
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Phoebe Hearst Museum of Anthropology and Department of Anthropology, University of California, Berkeley, California, USA

    M. Steven Shackley

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© 1998 Springer Science+Business Media New York

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Stevenson, C.M., Mazer, J.J., Scheetz, B.E. (1998). Laboratory Obsidian Hydration Rates. 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_8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-9276-8_8

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4757-9278-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4757-9276-8

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