Analysis of Obsidian Procurement from the Wurlitzer Site, Butte County, California

Summary

This is an abstract from the "SAA 2019: General Sessions" session, at the 84th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

This presentation will show the results of XRF testing of obsidian artifacts from the Wurlitzer site in Butte County, California. The purpose of this testing is to create a better context from which to understand the site. Previous research has focused primarily on creating a chronology of the site using radiocarbon dating, point typologies, and comparison to other sites in the region. Radiocarbon dates from lower levels at the site were dated to 2480 BC, while upper levels were dated to 1416 AD (Johnson 2005). While a general chronology of the site is understood, little is known about settlement patterns. As a result, x-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF) was run on 1,130 artifacts (207 points, 53 bifaces, 3 cores, and 867 flakes) to determine the raw material sources. This sample represents all obsidian artifacts cataloged in the digital database that could be located in the collection. Metrics were also taken on each artifact tested to attempt to find a relationship between flake or tool type and obsidian procurement. Combining previously studied chronological markers with interpretations regarding mobility creates a more dynamic cultural pattern that more accurately reflects the ever-shifting cultural boundaries of the region.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 84th Annual Meeting, Albuquerque, NM (2019)

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Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 25428