Obsidian sources and distribution systems in Island Southeast Asia: a review of previous research
Spriggs, Matthew, Reepmeyer, Christian, Anggraeni, , Lape, Peter, Neri, Leee, Ronquillo, Wilfredo P., Simanjuntak, Truman, Summerhayes, Glenn, Tanudirjo, Daud A., and Tiauzon, Archie (2011) Obsidian sources and distribution systems in Island Southeast Asia: a review of previous research. Journal of Archaeological Science, 38 (11). pp. 2873-2881.
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Abstract
This paper summarises research on obsidian findings across the region of Island Southeast Asia (ISEA), from the first reporting of obsidian on Sumatra as a result of cave excavations in the early 1900s through to the latest published discoveries in 2009. These results are the background for the first region-wide research project focussing on obsidian characterisation and its role in prehistoric inter-island exchange. It is commonly held that distribution of obsidian in ISEA was only localised and inter-island transportation limited. The review, however, suggests that this hypothesis derives from an incomplete knowledge of obsidian distribution in the region rather than typifying prehistoric social patterns. Obsidian sourcing has been carried out only intermittently in ISEA since the 1970s and has generally been focussed only at the single site level, thus explaining this very partial understanding.
Item ID: | 38980 |
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Item Type: | Article (Research - C1) |
ISSN: | 1095-9238 |
Keywords: | Island Southeast Asia; obsidian; sourcing |
Funders: | Australian National University |
Date Deposited: | 03 Jun 2015 03:36 |
FoR Codes: | 21 HISTORY AND ARCHAEOLOGY > 2101 Archaeology > 210103 Archaeology of Asia, Africa and the Americas @ 100% |
SEO Codes: | 95 CULTURAL UNDERSTANDING > 9505 Understanding Past Societies > 950502 Understanding Asias Past @ 100% |
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