Geochemical Characterization and Archaeological Utilization of the Cerro Kaskio Obsidian Source in Southwestern Bolivia

Summary

Obsidian is not only an excellent raw material for the manufacture of stone tools but because of its compositional homogeneity, it can also be related to specific geographic sources. The geochemical characterization of obsidian sources can help to determine the geographic origin of different stone tools as well as aid to infer patterns of resource utilization and exchange. Although some of the most important obsidian sources in the Andes have been identified and adequately characterized, many remain unknown. Here we report for the first time, the location, description, geochemical characterization, and regional distribution of Cerro Kaskio, a new obsidian source from southwestern Bolivia. We show how artifacts made with Cerro Kaskio obsidian were initially utilized by some of the first explorers to enter the territory during the late Pleistocene but also by subsequent populations of pastoralists during the late Holocene. Given the singular composition, high-quality, and long-term use of this source, we anticipate that additional sites with stone tools made with Cerro Kaskio obsidian will be identified in the future.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 82nd Annual Meeting, Vancouver, BC (2017)

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Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 15357