| DESCRIPTION
|
Geographic distribution of artifact-quality Tuscan glass sources (from Hamusek 1993:152).
Until relatively recently, obsidian from numerous scattered collection localities east of Redding, California, were all considered to be outcrops of a single Tuscan chemical source group. Hamusek (1993, 1995), however, has now identified at least three geochemically-distinct Tuscan chemical source groups: (1) Backbone Ridge/Cow Creek; (2) Paynes Creek-Inks Creek, and (3) Paradise Ridge. Backbone Ridge/Cow Creek is by far the most commonly encountered source variety found in most prehistoric sites. Artifacts correlating with the Paynes-Inks Creek source are ooccasionally found in the immediate source area while archaeological specimens from the Paradise Ridge source have not yet been geochemically identified. Obsidian artifacts originating from the Tuscan source groups, particularly from the Cow Creek variety, are commonly found throughout northcentral California and often co-occur with artifacts originating from sources in the Medicine Lake Highlands.
Obsidian Hydration: Due to the high crystalline component in Tuscan glasses, obsidian hydration rims are often difficult to accurately measure.
Spatial distribution of Tuscan obsidian artifacts (from Hamusek 1993:145).
|
