Determining the Source of Lithic Artifacts: Reconstructing Trade in the Ancient World

The study of prehistoric exchange systems is a fundamental topic of archaeological research: the reconstruction of trade illuminates not only economic aspects of ancient societies, but also the social and political framework in which lithic procurement, production and use were embedded. There are three main prerequisites for successful lithic provenance studies: (1) knowledge of the geological sources available; (2) homogeneity of individual sources for the parameters measured; and (3) measurable, statistically valid differences between all sources for these parameters. The reconstruction of obsidian trade in the Mediterranean, the Near East, and elsewhere is the classic success story for just these reasons. Provenance studies of other stone materials ( e.g. chert/flint, steatite, greenstone, marble, basalt, granite) also have been successful when the above criteria were satisfied.

Scientific methods of analysis have been used in archaeological provenance studies for more than a century. Over the last few decades, many diverse techniques have been applied to lithic materials, from density measurements to neutron activation analysis. Instrumental improvements in sample handling, precision and accuracy, along with advances in data reduction, have resulted in a number of methods being appropriate for archaeological provenance studies. In several cases, lower costs and reduced sample size requirements have permitted the analysis of large numbers of artifacts. Such studies overcome the interpretive limitations imposed by small data sets, and allow detailed examination of geographic and temporal differences in lithic exploitation patterns. Several examples will be used to illustrate the scientific methods currently available and their applicability to specific lithic materials.