Stéphan Dubernet

Eastern Anatolian obsidians at Çatalhöyük and the reconfiguration of regional interaction in the Early Ceramic Neolithic

A small group of exotic obsidian blades supplied from over 600km distant reached a particular area of the East Mound at Catalhoyuk in the Early Ceramic Neolithic (7000-6300 cal BC). The authors explore a variety of explanations and contexts, including changes in technology, agricultural expansion, gift exchange, bride-wealth and incomers from the east.

Provenance of the Jerf el Ahmar (Middle Euphrates Valley, Syria) obsidians

A provenance study of obsidians collected in the Jerf el Ahmar village dated from 9500 to 8700 BC cal (Middle Euphrates Valley, Syria) was made from geochemical analyses. The elementary composition of 44 obsidian artefacts and of 19 samples from potential obsidian volcanic sources was determined by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry and -mass spectrometry (ICP-AES/-MS) or particle induced X-ray emission (PIXE) and scanning electron microscope-energy dispersion of X-rays (SEM-EDX). We show that each of these approaches gives reliable source assignment. We found that 42 of the Jerf el Ahmar obsidians came from the Cappadocia (Gollu Dag volcanic massif) and two from the Bingol area in Eastern Anatolia. This information confirms the arrival in the Levant of obsidian from the latter sources during the end of the Pre-Pottery Neolithic A period, most probably in relation with the diffusion of the Neolithic process from the Middle Euphrates Valley towards the Northeast.

The geochemical characterization of two long distance chert tracers by ED-XRF and LA-ICP-MS. Implications for Magdalenian human mobility in the Pyrenees (SW Europe)

ABSTRACT We geochemically characterize two chert formations outcropping in the Pyrenees and presenting similar characteristics at the visual and microscopic scale: The Montgaillard flysch cherts and the Montsaunès cherts. Cherts presenting identical textural and micropalaeontological features as both types have been found in several Magdalenian Pyrenean sites. We are face to a long distance chert type whose geochemical characterization is essential for knowing where the tracer comes from. Analyses have been done using Energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (ED-XRF) and laser ablation inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS). Results show that despite obtaining similar data concerning major and minor elements, differences have been observed regarding trace elements. The establishment of differences between both formations at the geochemical level has allowed specifying the origin of this chert type recovered at the Magdalenian levels of Parco Cave (Alòs de Balaguer, Spain). Results demonstrate long lithic raw material circulation and thus, human mobility in the Pyrenees during the Upper Palaeolithic.