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Lepong: A New Obsidian Source in the Admiralty Islands, Papua New Guinea
Author(s) -
Summerhayes Glenn R.,
Kennedy Jean,
MatisooSmith Elizabeth,
Mandui Herman,
Ambrose Wal,
Allen Charlotte,
Reepmeyer Christian,
Torrence Robin,
Wadra François
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
geoarchaeology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.696
H-Index - 44
eISSN - 1520-6548
pISSN - 0883-6353
DOI - 10.1002/gea.21475
Subject(s) - manus , new guinea , archaeology , geology , pleistocene , excavation , electron microprobe , cave , geochemistry , geography , mineralogy , paleontology , history , ethnology
A new obsidian source from northwest Manus, Papua New Guinea, is reported for the first time. The chemical signature for this new source was obtained using the electron microprobe, ICP‐MS, and PIXE‐PIGME, and the results were compared with known sources and artifacts from this region. The results show for the first time a more complex scenario of obsidian procurement and exchange than previously thought. Archaeological excavation and survey of Manus is so far very limited, with only one excavated Pleistocene site. Much more archaeological work is needed to find more early sites, to assess the distributions of material from Lepong and other obsidian sources, and model obsidian transfers in more detail.