Clovis Use of Obsidian in the Southwest

Summary

This is an abstract from the "2019 Fryxell Award Symposium: Papers in Honor of M. Steven Shackley" session, at the 84th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

The role of obsidian in Clovis technological organization in the US Southwest and northwestern Mexico is investigated. The distribution and typology of obsidian artifacts from excavated sites as well as surface contexts is reviewed. Projectile points appear to be the principal, and nearly only, tool for which obsidian was used, in contrast to chert and other siliceous materials that served for the manufacture of multiple tool types. Compositional studies by Steve Shackley indicate that, Clovis groups exploited several different primary obsidian sources within the region, which offer piece sizes ranging from large nodules to small marekanites. Secondary sources—nodules available in Quaternary alluvial deposits—along major drainages were also likely exploited. Use of marekanites and small nodules from secondary contexts is particularly interesting because small piece sizes restrict the sizes of projectile points that can be made. Small obsidian points are common at Clovis sites in southeast Arizona and south-central New Mexico, and analysis of their dimensions and those of Clovis points of other materials are presented. Reasons for the organizational decisions to select, transport, and use these small pieces of obsidian are explored.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• 2019 Fryxell Award Symposium: Papers in Honor of M. Steven Shackley   •
• Society for American Archaeology 84th Annual Meeting, Albuquerque, NM (2019)

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Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 23332