Intrasource Chemical Differentiation of Obsidian in the Jemez Mountains and Taos Plateau, New Mexico

Obsidian specimens from the Jemez Mountains and Taos Plateau source regions of north central New Mexico were characterized by instrumental neutron activation analysis and X-ray fluorescence analysis to establish the number of geochemical groups present. In addition, 37 obsidian artefacts from sites in New Mexico were similarly analysed. The results of this research have determined that at least eight geochemical varieties of obsidian exist within the two source regions. The results also indicate that an abbreviated-INAA procedure previously found to be successful in assigning obsidian artefacts from Mesoamerica is also capable of sourcing artefacts from the northern New Mexico sources.