33915
Accession Number
36290
Title Of Article Chaper
Neutron activation analysis of obsidian from Kalavasos-<i>Tenta</i>
Title Of Journal Book
Journal of field archaeology
Volume
22
Issue
4
Pages
503-508
Language Of Text
English
Language Of Summary
English
Literature Type
Serial
Literature Level
Analytic
Abstract
The small quantity of obsidian used by the Aceramic Neolithic occupants of Cyprus was imported, there being no source on the island. The chemical composition, determined by neutron activation analysis, of six samples of obsidian from Kalavasos-<i>Tenta</i> indicates that they were derived from the central Anatolian, Göllü Dag (Çiftlik: Group 2b) source. On the basis of chemical composition, obsidian from five Cypriot Aceramic Neolithic sites has the same provenance. Our data suggest that the fragments analyzed were not derived from a single core and, because obsidian occurs throughout the Aceramic period of occupation of Kalavasos-<i>Tenta</i>, it appears unlikely that the 36 artifacts recovered from the site represent a one-time transfer of material. This suggests an enduring supply, and implies to us that the inhabitants of Kalavasos-<i>Tenta</i> were never completely isolated from the mainland.
Keywords
Anatolia;Cyprus (Kalavasos);Neolithic;neutron activation analysis; obsidian;provenance;Turkey
pub_id
33915