OBSIDIAN DEPOSITS FROM NORTH-WESTERN IRAN AND FIRST ANALYTICAL RESULTS: IMPLICATIONS FOR PREHISTORIC PRODUCTION AND TRADE

Abstract

New studies on prehistoric obsidian artifacts and their provenance have been published by Iranian and

international researchers during recent years, which showed, that some obsidian tools might have come

from an unknown source located in Iran (perhaps Sahand or Sabalan Mountains). The aim of this paper is to

discuss recently discovered obsidian sources in north-west Iran. After a brief introduction of recent obsidian

studies in Iran the paper addresses some recent filed work and the geochemical analyses of samples from

these surveys (from Tajaraq near Miyaneh and Ghizilja near Bostababad in the Bozghoosh Mountains) by

using portable ED-XRF analysis. The results suggest that three major obsidian groups can be distinguished,

which are classified as group A and B of Tajaraq besides a single group of Ghizilja. The implications of the

new results are discussed along with actual limitations and future research directions.