X-ray Fluorescence Analysis of Obsidian Artifacts from Cheshmeh Ali, Iran

Rare Prehistoric obsidian Artifacts have been found in Central Plateau of Iran . late Neolithic and Chalcolithic Societies in this region had progressive industry and glory independent culture is known as Cheshme Ali culture –fine red pottery culture – which spread out North East of Iran and Turkmenistan. Obsidian provenance study of this culture is very important to determine trade routes and interactive relations with Anatolia and Mesopotemia as cradle of civilization. The famous Cheshme Ali site near Tehran has been excavated by Erich Schmidt 1934-1936 and findings have been kept by University of Pennsylvania Museum. Nine lithic artifacts from this site were submitted to Archaeometry Laboratory of the University of Missouri Research Reactor (MURR) for analysis by non-destructive X-ray fluorescence (XRF). Eight of the Cheshmeh Ali artifacts were obsidian and were discovered to be from sources located in Turkey and Armenia. The ninth artifact was found not to be an obsidian, but instead was made from chert.