Publication Date:
2021-01-21
Description:
This paper provides new petrochemical and paleomagnetic data from obsidian sub-sources on the island
of Pantelleria, exploited since the Neolithic. Data has been obtained from 14 obsidian samples from 4 locations: Fossa
della Pernice (2 sites), Salto la Vecchia and Balata dei Turchi. Here, we aim to better characterize these obsidians using
a cross-disciplinary and multi-analytical approach, to further understand their archaeological significance. Major
element analyses (EMP) have enabled two compositional super-groups to be distinguished: (i) Fossa della Pernice,
less peralkaline and (ii) Balata dei Turchi–Salto la Vecchia, distinctly more peralkaline and having almost identical
chemical patterns. Trace element analyses (LA-ICP-MS) corroborate major element groupings, with the Balata dei
Turchi–Salto la Vecchia super-group being further characterized by a pronounced negative europium anomaly. Glass
H2O contents (FT-IR) reveal an overlap among all the sub-sources (H2O = 0.1–0.3 wt. %). Magnetic methods have
refined the petrochemical groupings, permitting further distinction between Balata dei Turchi–Salto La Vecchia and
the Fossa della Pernice super-groups. The occurrence of sub-microscopic (〈 1 μm) ferromagnetic minerals results in
different magnetic susceptibility and Natural Remanent Magnetization values and allows the best distinction among
the products from the chosen sites.
When compared with obsidian tools excavated from Bronze-age settlements on the island of Ustica (230 km NE of
Pantelleria), 12% are distinctly peralkaline, indicating their provenance to be from the Balata dei Turchi sub-source.
Description:
Published
Description:
434-453
Description:
1A. Geomagnetismo e Paleomagnetismo
Description:
JCR Journal
Keywords:
Obsidian, Pantelleria, Ustica, Lipari, Bronze age
;
04.05. Geomagnetism
Repository Name:
Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV)
Type:
article
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