Obsidian exchange and societies in the Balkans and the Aegean from the late 7th to 5th millennia BC
Obsidian has long been recognised as a proxy for tracing long-distance interaction and exchange. In this thesis, I use these lithics to examine the directionality, intensity and nature of interactions of the Neolithic communities that lived in western Anatolia, the Aegean and the Balkans between the late 7th and the mid-5 th millennia BC. The study sites are located in the zones of circulation of material from three major obsidian sources: central Anatolian, Melian and Carpathian. More specifically, they are located in the peripheries of, and overlaps between, distributions zones in which obsidian was procured from long distance. The thesis investigates the modes and scales of interaction that are responsible for bringing obsidian to these sites and that can be measured through characterising obsidian consumption. The main approach is based on examination of interrelationships between raw material and technology in a number of assemblages. This is done by provenancing obsidian artefacts to sources by quantifying characteristic trace element patterns using data obtained with a portable X-Ray Fluorescence spectrometer. Techno-typological analysis of artefacts within the chaiÌne opeÌratoire framework is used
Milic, M.
Obsidian exchange and societies in the Balkans and the Aegean from the late 7th to 5th millennia BC. Obsidian has long been recognised as a proxy for tracing long-distance interaction and exchange. In this thesis, I use these lithics to examine the directionality, intensity and nature of interactions of the Neolithic communities that lived in western Anatolia, the Aegean and the Balkans between the late 7th and the mid-5 th millennia BC. The study sites are located in the zones of circulation of material from three major obsidian sources: central Anatolian, Melian and Carpathian. More specifically, they are located in the peripheries of, and overlaps between, distributions zones in which obsidian was procured from long distance. The thesis investigates the modes and scales of interaction that are responsible for bringing obsidian to these sites and that can be measured through characterising obsidian consumption. The main approach is based on examination of interrelationships between raw material and technology in a number of assemblages. This is done by provenancing obsidian artefacts to sources by quantifying characteristic trace element patterns using data obtained with a portable X-Ray Fluorescence spectrometer. Techno-typological analysis of artefacts within the chaiÌne opeÌratoire framework is used
obsidian exchange society balkans aegean obsidian long_recognise proxy trace long_distance interaction exchange use lithics examine directionality intensity nature interaction neolithic_community live western_anatolia aegean balkans late study site_locate zone circulation material three_major obsidian source central_anatolian specifically locate periphery overlap distribution zone obsidian procure long_distance investigates mode scale interaction responsible bring obsidian site measure characterise obsidian consumption main base_examination interrelationship raw_material technology number assemblage provenancing obsidian artefact source quantify characteristic trace_element pattern use data_obtain portable_x ray_fluorescence typological_analysis artefact within chaiine_opeiratoire framework use