Sourcing belief : using obsidian sourcing to understand prehistoric ideology in northeastern California, U.S.A.
Part of : Mediterranean archaeology & archaeometry : international journal ; Vol.4, No.2, 2004, pages 33-51
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Pages:
33-51
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Articles
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Abstract:
Large obsidian bifaces from northern California have long been known as non-utilitarianceremonial and wealth objects. Despite their stylized form, bifaces were manufactured from severaldifferent obsidian sources. Glass Mountain in Siskiyou County, California was one source for blackobsidian bifaces. The lithic assemblage at Glass Mountain and x-ray fluorescence data from thesurrounding region indicate that Glass Mountain obsidian was used almost entirely for bifaceproduction, and was neglected as a source for utilitarian objects. Just as obsidian objects fulfilledutilitarian or non-utilitarian functions, obsidian sources retained special roles within the context ofprehistoric culture and belief systems.
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Keywords:
Obsidian, Prehistory, California, Bifaces
