Provenance and Transport of Obsidian in Chubut (Central Patagonia, Argentina): From the Early Holocene to Historical Contexts

Abstract

Obsidian geochemical characteristics allow for the establishment of potential sources used in the past. Thus, the distribution of obsidian artifacts is an indicator of mobility and interaction between groups, especially where high-quality obsidians are exotic resources. In Chubut, the finding of obsidian artifacts at great distances from their respective sources and the coexistence of different types of obsidian at some archaeological sites show a more complex scheme than a simple distribution pattern related to the relative proximity to each source. In other words, direct procurement strategies for obsidian acquisition cannot be the only explanatory hypothesis but also the distribution may be explained by the existence of contact between different groups. An update of the current information with new unpublished results from sites in southwest Chubut are presented here. The implications for understanding the technological strategies and mobility circuits of hunter-gatherers are discussed. The current study considers the use of exotic obsidian by inhabitants of the region over a broad chronological framework ranging from the early Holocene to the times of contact (9,000 BP to 19th century).