Obsidian Artifacts from Multiple Sources and Subsources at Valdesi in Western Sicily
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Geological Background of Monte Pellegrino
3. Archaeological Site and Background
4. Obsidian Sources and Subsources in the South–Central Mediterranean
5. Analytical Methods and Results
6. Discussion
7. Conclusions
Author Contributions
Funding
Data Availability Statement
Acknowledgments
Conflicts of Interest
References
- Tykot, R.H. Obsidian Procurement and Distribution in the Central and Western Mediterranean. J. Mediterr. Archaeol. 1996, 9, 39–82. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Tykot, R.H. Chemical Fingerprinting and Source-Tracing of Obsidian: The Central Mediterranean Trade in Black Gold. Acc. Chem. Res. 2002, 35, 618–627. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Agnesi, V. (Ed.) La geomorfologia di Palermo; Sapienza Università Editrice 24: Roma, Italy, 2021. [Google Scholar]
- Agnesi, V. La montagna sacra, ovvero, miti leggende e misteri di Monte Pellegrino. In Miti e leggende della geologia in Sicilia; Villaggio Letterario: Napoli, Italy, 2023. [Google Scholar]
- Cappadonia, C.; Di Maggio, C.; Agate, M.; Agnesi, V. Geomorphology of the urban area of Palermo (Italy). J. Maps 2020, 16, 274–284. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Agate, M.; Di Maggio, C. Assetto geologico della Piana di Palermo e dei monti circostanti. In La geomorfologia di Palermo; Agnesi, V., Ed.; Sapienza Università Editrice: Roma, Italy, 2021; pp. 7–14. [Google Scholar]
- Agate, M.; Di Maggio, C. Una storia geologica lunga 230 milioni di anni. In La geomorfologia di Palermo; Agnesi, V., Ed.; Sapienza Università Editrice: Roma, Italy, 2021; pp. 15–24. [Google Scholar]
- Di Maida, G. 3D in the cave: Hey young deer, why the long face (and no tail). Rock Art Res. 2016, 33, 209. [Google Scholar]
- Mannino, G. Le grotte di Monte Pellegrino; Etna Madonie del Gruppo Alpino Siciliano: Palermo, Italy, 1985; p. 245. [Google Scholar]
- Salinas, E. Ricerche paletnologiche intorno al Monte Pellegrino presso Palermo. In Notizie degli Scavi; NSA: Fort Meade, MD, USA, 1907; pp. 307–313. [Google Scholar]
- De Gregorio, A. Iconografia Delle Collezioni Preistoriche Della Sicilia; Annales del Geologie et de Paleontologie, 33–34 Sivrason, Palermo; Edizioni Librarie Siciliane: Sicilia, Italy, 1917; pp. 23–28. [Google Scholar]
- Bovio Marconi, J. La Coltura Tipo Conca d’Oro della Sicilia Nord-Occidentale; Tipografia dell’Accademia d’Italia: Milano, Italy, 1944. [Google Scholar]
- Mannino, G. Monte Pellegrino nella Preistoria, Nuovi Dati. Not. Archeol. Della Soprintend. Di Palermo 2017, 24, 1–28. [Google Scholar]
- Tusa, S. La Sicilia nella Preistoria; Sellerio Editore Palermo: Palermo, Italy, 1992. [Google Scholar]
- Giannitrapani, E. Calib_Sicily: A new radiocarbon dataset for prehistoric Sicily. Spatiotemporal dynamics from ca. 6.500 to 1.500 cal. BCE. Archeol. Data III 2023, 2023, 153–166. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Tykot, R.H. Geological Sources of Obsidian on Lipari and Artifact Production and Distribution in the Neolithic and Bronze Age Central Mediterranean. Open Archaeol. 2019, 5, 83–105. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Tykot, R.H.; Iovino, M.R.; Martinelli, M.C.; Beyer, L. Ossidiana da Lipari: Le fonti, la distribuzione, la tipologia e le tracce d’usura. In Proceedings of the Atti del XXXIX Riunione Scientifica dell’Istituto Italiano di Preistoria e Protostoria: Materie Prime e Scambi nella Preistoria Italiana, Firenze, Italy, 25–27 November 2004; pp. 592–597. [Google Scholar]
- Martinelli, M.C.; Coltelli, M.; Manni, M.; Bonizzoni, L.; Guglielmetti, A.; Oddone, M.; Balestrieri, M.L. Prehistorical Obsidian Sources in the Island of Lipari (Aeolian Islands). Open Archaeol. 2020, 6, 393–402. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Francaviglia, V. Ancient obsidian sources on Pantelleria (Italy). J. Archaeol. Sci. 1988, 15, 109–122. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Forni, F.; Lucchi, F.; Peccerillo, A.; Tranne, C.A.; Rossi, P.L.; Frezzotti, M.L. Stratigraphy and geological evolution of the Lipari volcanic complex (cental Aeolian archipelago). In The Aeolian Islands Volcanoes (Vol. Memoir No. 37); Lucchi, F., Peccerillo, A., Keller, J., Tranne, C.A., Rossi, P.L., Eds.; Geological Society: London, UK, 2013; pp. 213–279. [Google Scholar]
- Martinelli, M.C.; Tykot, R.H.; Vianello, A. Lipari (Aeolian Islands) obsidian in the Late Neolithic. Artifacts, supply and function. Open Archaeol. 2019, 5, 46–64. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Tykot, R.H.; Vargo, B.A.; Bliss, J.; Colella, V.; Tosi, M.; Tusa, S. Geoarchaeological Survey of Obsidian Sources on Pantelleria (Italy), 102nd Annual Meeting of the Archaeological Institute of America, January 3–6, San Diego. Am. J. Archaeol. 2001, 105, 280. [Google Scholar]
- Tufano, E.; D’Amora, A.; Trifuoggi, M.; Tusa, S. L’ossidiana di Pantelleria: Studio di caratterizzazione e provenienza alla luce della scoperta di nuovi giacimenti. In Atti della XLI Riunione Scientifica dell’Istituto Italiano di Preistoria e Protostoria; Istituto Italiano di Preistoria e Protostoria: Firenze, Italy, 2012; pp. 840–849. [Google Scholar]
- Rotolo, S.G.; Carapezza, M.L.; Correale, A.; Foresta Martin, F.; Hahn, G.; Hodgetts, A.G.E.; La Monica, M.; Nazzari, M.; Romano, P.; Sagnotti, L.; et al. Obsidians of Pantelleria (Strait of Sicily): A Petrographic, Geochemical and Magnetic Study of Known and New Geological Sources. Open Archaeol. 2020, 6, 434–453. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Freund, K.P.; Tykot, R.H. Lithic technology and obsidian exchange networks in Bronze Age Nuragic Sardinia (Italy). Archaeol. Anthropol. Sci. 2011, 3, 151–164. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Freund, K.P.; Tykot, R.H.; Vianello, A. Blade production and the consumption of obsidian in Stentinello period Neolithic Sicily. Comptes Rendus Palevol 2015, 14, 207–217. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Freund, K.P.; Tykot, R.H.; Vianello, A. Contextualizing the Role of Obsidian in Chalcolithic Sicily (c. 3500–2500 BC). Lithic Technol. 2017, 42, 35–48. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Cann, J.R.; Renfrew, C. The characterization of obsidian and its application to the Mediterranean region. Proc. Prehist. Soc. 1964, 30, 111–133. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Hallam, B.R.; Warren, S.E.; Renfrew, C. Obsidian in the western Mediterranean: Characterisation by neutron activation analysis and optical emission spectroscopy. Proc. Prehist. Soc. 1976, 42, 85–110. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Francaviglia, V.; Piperno, M. La repartition et la provenance de l’obsidiene archaeologique de la Grotta dell’Uzzo et de Monte Cofano (Sicile). Rev. D’archéométrie 1987, 11, 31–39. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- La Rosa, V.; Palio, O.; Pappalardo, G.; Pappalardo, L.; Romano, F.P. Analisi delle provenienze di ossidiane dal territorio di Milena (Caltanissetta). In Atti della XXXIX Riunione Scientifica. Materie Prime e Scambi nella Preistoria Italiana; Istituto Italiano di Preistoria e Protostoria I: Firenze, Italy, 2006; pp. 499–508. [Google Scholar]
- Pappalardo, L.; Romano, F.P.; Bracchitta, D.; Massimino, A.; Palio, O.; Rizzo, F. Obsidian provenance determination using the beam stability controlled BSC-XRF and the PIXE-alpha portable spectrometers of the LANDIS laboratory: The case of Via Capuana settlement in Licodia Eubea (Sicily). J. Geophys. Eng. 2013, 10, 064004. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- De Francesco, A.M.; Crisci, G.M.; Bocci, M. Non-destructive Analytical Method Using XRF for Determination of Provenance of Archaeological Obsidians from the Mediterranean Area: A Comparison with Traditional XRF Methods. Archaeometry 2008, 50, 337–350. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Orange, M.; Le Bourdonnec, F.-X.; Bellot-Gurlet, L.; Lugliè, C.; Dubernet, S.; Bressy-Leandri, C.; Scheffers, A.; Joannes-Boyau, R. On sourcing obsidian assemblages from the Mediterranean area: Analytical strategies for their exhaustive geochemical characterization. J. Archaeol. Sci. Rep. 2017, 12, 834–844. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Kasztovszky, Z.; Maróti, B.; IHarsányi, I.; Párkányi, D.; Szilágyi, V. A comparative study of PGAA and portable XRF used for non-destructive provenancing archaeological obsidian. Quat. Int. 2018, 468, 179–189. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Tykot, R.H. Sourcing of Sardinian Obsidian Collections in the Museo Preistorico-Etnografico ‘Luigi Pigorini’ Using Non-Destructive Portable XRF. In L’ossidiana del Monte Arci nel Mediterraneo. Nuovi Apporti sulla Diffusione, sui Sistemi di Produzione e Sulla loro Cronologia. Atti del 5° Convegno Internazionale (Pau, Italia, 27–29 Giugno 2008); Lugliè, C., Ed.; NUR: Ales, Italy, 2010; pp. 85–97. [Google Scholar]
- Tykot, R.H. Obsidian Finds on the Fringes of the Central Mediterranean: Exotic or Eccentric Exchange? In Exotica in the Prehistoric Mediterranean; Vianello, A., Ed.; Oxbow Books: Oxford, UK, 2011; pp. 33–44. [Google Scholar]
- Tykot, R.H. Using Non-Destructive Portable X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometers on Stone, Ceramics, Metals, and Other Materials in Museums: Advantages and Limitations. Appl. Spectrosc. 2016, 70, 42–56. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Tykot, R.H. A Decade of Portable (Hand-Held) X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometer Analysis of Obsidian in the Mediterranean: Many Advantages and Few Limitations. MRS Adv. 2017, 2, 1769–1784. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Tykot, R.H. Obsidian Studies in the Prehistoric Central Mediterranean: After 50 Years, What Have We Learned and What Still Needs to Be Done? Open Archaeol. 2017, 3, 264–278. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Tykot, R.H. Non-Destructive pXRF on Prehistoric Obsidian Artifacts from the Central Mediterranean. Appl. Sci. 2021, 11, 7459. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Mameli, V.; Angotzi, M.S.; Farinini, E.; Leardi, R.; Lugliè, C.; Cannas, C. Intra-source provenance study on Monte Arci (Sardinia) obsidian by pXRF: Role of the data acquisition and analysis tools. Heliyon 2023, 9, e13958. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Tykot, R.H. Open-Water Travel for Obsidian to Sicily and other South-Central Mediterranean Islands. In Proceedings of the Atti del LVII Riunione Scientifica dell’Istituto Italiano di Preistoria e Protostoria, Periplous: Il mare nella Preistoria mediterranea, Siracusa, Italy, 19–22 October 2022. [Google Scholar]
- Glascock, M.D.; Ferguson, J.R. Report on the Analysis of Obsidian Source Samples by Multiple Analytical Methods; Archaeometry Lab, University of Missouri Research Reactor: Columbia, MO, USA, 2012. [Google Scholar]
- Tykot, R.H.; Foresta Martin, F. Analysis by pXRF of Prehistoric Obsidian Artifacts from Several Sites on Ustica (Italy): Long-Distance Open-Water Distribution from Multiple Island Sources during the Neolithic and Bronze Ages. Open Archaeol. 2020, 6, 348–392. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Foresta Martin, F.; Di Piazza, A.; D’Oriano, C.; Carapezza, M.L.; Paonita, A.; Rotolo, S.G.; Sagnotti, L. New Insights into the Provenance of the Obsidian Fragments of the Island of Ustica (Palermo, Sicily). Archaeometry 2017, 59, 435–454. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Foresta Martin, F.; Tykot, R.H. Characterization and Provenance of Archaeological Obsidian from Pirozza-Spalmatore, a Site of Neolithic Colonization on the Island of Ustica (Sicily). Open Archaeol. 2019, 5, 4–17. [Google Scholar]
- Speciale, C.; Iovino, M.R.; Freund, K.; de Vita, S.; Larosa, N.; Battaglia, G.; Tykot, R.H.; Vassallo, S. Obsidian from the site of Piano dei Cardoni, Ustica (Palermo, Italy): New Insights on the Prehistoric Occupation of the Island. Open Archaeol. 2021, 7, 273–290. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Robb, J.E.; Farr, H. Substances in motion: Neolithic Mediterranean “trade”. In The Archaeology of Mediterranean Prehistory; Blake, E., Knapp, A.B., Eds.; Blackwell: Hoboken, NJ, USA, 2005; pp. 24–45. [Google Scholar]
- Tykot, R.H.; Freund, K.P.; Vianello, A. Source Analysis of Prehistoric Obsidian Artifacts in Sicily (Italy) using Pxrf. In Archaeological Chemistry VIII; Armitage, R.A., Burton, J.H., Eds.; ACS Symposium Series; ACS: Washington, DC, USA, 2013; Volume 1147, pp. 195–210. [Google Scholar]
- Vianello, A.; Tykot, R.H. Exchange Networks from Close-Up: The Case of Lipari Obsidian. J. Lithic Stud. 2016, 3, 1–16. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
Li-GG | Li-CD | Pa-BdT | Pa-LdV1 | SB2 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
number | 33 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 1 |
percentage | 78.6% | 2.4% | 11.9% | 4.8% | 2.4% |
Sample | USF # | Category | Color | Phenocrysts | Transparency | Worked | Fe | Rb | Sr | Y | Zr | Nb | Source | Subsource |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
64680 | 21283 | Blade P F | black | Y | 3 | Y | 11278 | 271 | 21 | 40 | 163 | 33 | Lipari | Gabellotto |
64681 | 21284 | Blade P F | black | N | 4 | N | 10186 | 262 | 14 | 46 | 149 | 33 | Lipari | Gabellotto |
64682 | 21285 | Blade P F | black | N | 1 | N | 41536 | 123 | 27 | 110 | 1098 | 228 | Pantelleria | Lago di Venere 1 |
64683 | 21286 | Blade P F | black | N | 1 | N | 42752 | 118 | 28 | 131 | 1138 | 255 | Pantelleria | Lago di Venere 1 |
64684 | 21287 | Blade | black | N | 5 | N | 10512 | 263 | 18 | 42 | 159 | 32 | Lipari | Gabellotto |
64685 | 21288 | Blade P F | black | Y | 2 | N | 7455 | 163 | 43 | 29 | 171 | 23 | Sardinia | SB2 |
64686 | 21289 | Blade P F | black | N | 2 | N | 13102 | 254 | 18 | 44 | 156 | 29 | Lipari | Gabellotto |
64687 | 21290 | Blade M F | black | N | 2 | N | 51892 | 162 | 10 | 155 | 1481 | 340 | Pantelleria | Balata dei Turchi |
64688 | 21291 | Blade P F | dark-grey | N | 3 | N | 10230 | 270 | 14 | 44 | 154 | 34 | Lipari | Gabellotto |
64689 | 21292 | Blade M F | black | N | 4 | N | 10526 | 270 | 18 | 39 | 164 | 32 | Lipari | Gabellotto |
64690 | 21293 | Blade | black | N | 4 | N | 10318 | 248 | 16 | 38 | 155 | 31 | Lipari | Gabellotto |
64691 | 21294 | Blade | black | N | 3 | N | 12683 | 263 | 19 | 41 | 155 | 32 | Lipari | Gabellotto |
64692 | 21295 | Blade M F | black | Y | 3 | N | 10796 | 253 | 19 | 42 | 156 | 30 | Lipari | Gabellotto |
64962 | 21296 | Blade M F | black | N | 3 | N | 10543 | 241 | 21 | 35 | 163 | 28 | Lipari | Gabellotto |
64963 | 21297 | Blade M F | black | N | 3 | N | 12444 | 265 | 26 | 47 | 161 | 36 | Lipari | Gabellotto |
64964 | 21298 | Blade D F | black | N | 3 | N | 11998 | 271 | 20 | 43 | 158 | 34 | Lipari | Gabellotto |
64965 | 21299 | Blade M F | black | N | 2 | N | 53727 | 167 | 12 | 154 | 1500 | 334 | Pantelleria | Balata dei Turchi |
64966 | 21300 | Blade P F | black | N | 3 | N | 12500 | 271 | 20 | 44 | 164 | 36 | Lipari | Gabellotto |
64967 | 21301 | Blade M F | black | N | 1 | N | 52029 | 170 | 10 | 156 | 1543 | 349 | Pantelleria | Balata dei Turchi |
64968 | 21302 | Blade P F | black | N | 3 | N | 11547 | 269 | 15 | 40 | 155 | 32 | Lipari | Gabellotto |
64969 | 21303 | Blade M F | dark-grey | N | 3 | N | 14535 | 281 | 20 | 41 | 170 | 33 | Lipari | Gabellotto |
64970 | 21304 | Blade D F | black | Y | 3 | N | 13305 | 256 | 22 | 38 | 161 | 33 | Lipari | Gabellotto |
64971 | 21305 | Blade D F | black | N | 1 | N | 11212 | 270 | 18 | 44 | 162 | 32 | Lipari | Gabellotto |
64972 | 21306 | Blade D F | black | N | 1 | N | 51829 | 161 | 13 | 146 | 1381 | 298 | Pantelleria | Balata dei Turchi |
64972 | 21307 | Blade D F | black | N | 1 | N | 53465 | 169 | 11 | 173 | 1592 | 354 | Pantelleria | Balata dei Turchi |
64973 | 21308 | Blade M F | black | Y | 3 | N | 11410 | 258 | 19 | 34 | 153 | 33 | Lipari | Gabellotto |
64974 | 21309 | Blade | black | N | 4 | N | 11685 | 265 | 19 | 43 | 167 | 34 | Lipari | Gabellotto |
64975 | 21310 | Blade F | black | N | 3 | N | 12053 | 263 | 21 | 39 | 167 | 32 | Lipari | Gabellotto |
64976 | 21311 | Flake | black | N | 3 | N | 12694 | 270 | 21 | 36 | 161 | 36 | Lipari | Gabellotto |
64977 | 21312 | Blade D F | black | Y | 3 | N | 11787 | 265 | 27 | 39 | 163 | 32 | Lipari | Gabellotto |
64978 | 21313 | Blade | black | N | 4 | N | 11751 | 296 | 22 | 40 | 172 | 37 | Lipari | Gabellotto |
64979 | 21314 | Blade M F | black | N | 3 | N | 15468 | 261 | 20 | 41 | 159 | 33 | Lipari | Gabellotto |
64980 | 21315 | Blade M F | black | N | 3 | N | 12378 | 269 | 20 | 39 | 166 | 31 | Lipari | Gabellotto |
64981 | 21316 | Blade M F | black | N | 3 | N | 10955 | 241 | 24 | 39 | 159 | 31 | Lipari | Gabellotto |
64982 | 21317 | Angular waste | black | N | 3 | N | 10725 | 234 | 33 | 38 | 184 | 33 | Lipari | Canneto Dentro |
64983 | 21318 | Angular waste | black | Y | 3 | Y | 13842 | 270 | 30 | 40 | 159 | 43 | Lipari | Gabellotto |
64984 | 21319 | Flake | black | N | 3 | N | 11116 | 263 | 22 | 37 | 160 | 34 | Lipari | Gabellotto |
64985 | 21320 | Blade P F | black | N | 3 | N | 13431 | 258 | 22 | 44 | 174 | 37 | Lipari | Gabellotto |
64986 | 21321 | Blade P F | dark-grey | N | 3 | N | 12492 | 264 | 20 | 42 | 162 | 33 | Lipari | Gabellotto |
64987 | 21322 | Blade D F | black | N | 3 | N | 10964 | 268 | 16 | 37 | 159 | 33 | Lipari | Gabellotto |
64988 | 21323 | Blade D F | black | N | 3 | Y | 10901 | 262 | 21 | 42 | 163 | 33 | Lipari | Gabellotto |
64989 | 21324 | Blade | dark-grey | N | 3 | N | 12087 | 260 | 18 | 41 | 170 | 32 | Lipari | Gabellotto |
Disclaimer/Publisher’s Note: The statements, opinions and data contained in all publications are solely those of the individual author(s) and contributor(s) and not of MDPI and/or the editor(s). MDPI and/or the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to people or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content. |
© 2023 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Share and Cite
Tykot, R.H.; Forgia, V.; Foresta Martin, F. Obsidian Artifacts from Multiple Sources and Subsources at Valdesi in Western Sicily. Minerals 2023, 13, 1093. https://doi.org/10.3390/min13081093
Tykot RH, Forgia V, Foresta Martin F. Obsidian Artifacts from Multiple Sources and Subsources at Valdesi in Western Sicily. Minerals. 2023; 13(8):1093. https://doi.org/10.3390/min13081093
Chicago/Turabian StyleTykot, Robert H., Vincenza Forgia, and Franco Foresta Martin. 2023. "Obsidian Artifacts from Multiple Sources and Subsources at Valdesi in Western Sicily" Minerals 13, no. 8: 1093. https://doi.org/10.3390/min13081093