Archaeologia Islandica - 01.01.2009, Qupperneq 53

Geochemical Identification of Obsidian Artifacts
or variant with- obsidian source use pat-
tems at other sites. Nonetheless, based on
the success of this modest study, we plan
to inaugurate a more ambitious obsidian
artifact characterization program to iden-
tify continuities and contrasts in obsidian
use at different locations in Iceland.
Additional artifact-quality geological
samples (e.g. those from the westem and
eastern flank rift zones) will be incorpo-
rated into the comparative database and
laboratory analyses will be conducted to
source the archaeological specimens
from other sites shown in Figure 1. We
hope that these studies will inform not
only on time/space distribution issues
and possible variability in these, but that
they may help illuminate and reveal dif-
ferent uses of obsidian by artifact class.
In this context, experimental work on
edge wear of obsidian, specifically when
used as a fírestone, could help elucidate
the function of these items.
Another more general issue arises
from this study. After searching for many
years the senior author has been unable to
fínd any reference to obsidian finds in
Viking age sites in Norway, Denmark or
Sweden. Regardless of whether commer-
cial relations between Iceland and the
Norse homelands were more intensive
earlier or later in time (cf. Gelsinger
1981; Smith 1995) obsidian from Iceland
(potentially usable as jewelry, as inserts
superfícially resembling other precious
stones, or for use in a variety of utilitarian
and non-utilitarian contexts) could easily
have made its way to archaeological sites
in Scandinavia along with other Icelandic
commodities. But apparently it did not,
or if it did it has not been recognized—
why? We hope to address this, and the
aforementioned issues, in the course of
future research.
A cknowledgments
The senior author (RH) is grateful to
Kevin Smith for his early interest and
support of this obsidian characterization
research. Tom Amorosi and Orri
Vésteinsson also assisted in various
ways. Kristján Jónasson, Icelandic
Institute of Natural History, sent geo-
logic sample splits from his obsidian
reference collection and generously
shared unpublished compositional data.
The late Irving Friedman (formerly U.S.
Geological Survey) also provided
Icelandic obsidian reference samples.
GL would like to thank all those who
provided information about the presence
of obsidian on their past and present
excavations; Bjarni F. Einarsson, Doug
Bolender, Davide Zori, Guðrún Alda
Gísladóttir, Guðrún Sveinbjarnardóttir,
Guðmundur Olafsson, Ragnheiður
Traustadóttir and Mjöll Snæsdóttir, and
also extends thanks to Curtis Runnels
and James Connolly for their help with
determining the possible uses of the
obsidian.
References
Askelsson, J., G. Bodvarsson, T.
Einarsson, G. Kjartansson, & S.
Thorarinsson (1960) On the Geology
and Geophysics of Iceland, (ed.)
Sigurd Thorarinsson. International
Geological Congress, Reykjavik.
Arnason, J. (1956) Islenzkar þjóðsögur
og œVmtýri (vol. I) Bókaútgáfan
þjóðsaga, Prentsmiðjan Hólar H-F.
Bardarson, H. R. (1980) Ice and Fire.
Third edition. Halmar Bardarson,
Reykjavik.
Blake, S. (1984) Magma Mixing and
Hybridization Process at the Alkalic,
Silicic, Torfajokull Central Volcano
Triggered by Injection of Basalt
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