Identification of the Sources of Hopewellian Obsidian in the Middle West

Abstract

One hundred and twenty years ago, the first obsidian implements were reported from Hopewellian mounds by Squier and Davis (1848). Since that time, a number of regions have been suggested as the source area: Alaska, the Pacific Coast, Yellowstone National Park, New Mexico, and central Mexico. Neutron activation analysis of the elemental composition of Hopewellian obsidian indicates two separate element groups. One of these, the 150 Group, has its source at Obsidian Cliff in Yellowstone. The second, the 90 Group, is also located in Yellowstone, but the exact flow has not yet been discovered.

Source determination of obsidian from Kansas archaeological sites using compositional analysis

“…Obsidian from Hopewell sites is dominated by the Obsidian Cliff, Wyoming source followed by the Idaho sources of Bear Gulch and, much less commonly, Malad (Anderson et al, 1986;DeBoer, 2004:86-87;Frison et al, 1968;Griffin and Gordus, 1967:528;Griffin et al, 1969;Hughes, 2006;Hughes and Nelson, 1987). No Southwestern obsidian has been found in well over 400 obsidian samples from Upper Midwestern Hopewell sites that have had chemical source determinations (Hughes, 2006).…”

MANA from heaven: Testing the utility of minimum analytical nodule analysis at large, repeatedly reoccupied ceremonial sites

“…For example, obsidian, volcanic glass presumably from the Yellowstone Plateau (Griffin et al 1969), was excluded as was Knife River flint, a brown vitreous material from South Dakota (Ahler 1986;Luedtke 1992:134). Similarly, Knox flint, which outcrops in Paleozoic age layers in Blount and Louden counties, Tennessee, had to be excluded for the same reasons (Kimball 1985).…”

Hopewell Archaeology: A View from the Northern Woodlands

“…An important set of technical analyses involving raw material sourcing, begun with Hopewellian obsidian artifacts (Griffin 1965), has transcended the more traditional definition of reduction sequences for lithic tools (Emerson et al 2005;Fie 2006;Griffin et al 1969;Hughes 2006;Hughes and Fortier 1997). These examinations of mineral and chemical composition of artifacts are critical steps in the study of local and nonlocal production that articulate with many other research questions.…”