Source analysis of prehistoric obsidian artifacts in sicily (Italy) using pXRF

Obsidian artifacts have been found at many prehistoric sites in Sicily, yet only a few studies have been done to determine the specific geological sources and subsources used. In 2012, nearly 600 artifacts from 25 archaeological sites dating from the Neolithic, Copper, and Bronze Ages (ca. 6th-2nd millennia BC) were analyzed non-destructively using a hand-held portable X-ray fluorescence spectrometer, in museums that would not allow removal of the artifacts. In addition, all of the artifacts were techno-typologically analyzed to understand how obsidian was reduced and used through time. A Bruker III-SD was used to produce data for trace elements Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, and Nb which were calibrated against international obsidian standards, and compared with results obtained with the same instrument on geological sources and subsources in the Mediterranean region. All artifacts tested came either from Lipari or Pantelleria, confirming visually-based predictions but also demonstrating that multiple geological subsources were used on each island. The majority of the obsidian artifacts were blades, while a small percentage were cores. These results are used to assess variation based on site location, time period, and lithic typology, and to inform us about contact, exchange, and socioeconomic aspects of the ancient societies involved and if they changed over time.