Obsidian-tempered pottery in the Southern Caucasus: a new approach to obsidian as a ceramic-temper

• We propose a new method of investigation on the obsidian-tempered ceramics.
• LA-HR-ICP-MS was applied on chalcolithic ceramics from Armenia.
• Experimental samples of obsidian-tempered clays were analysed with LA-HR-ICP-MS.
• Obsidian used as a temper in ceramics can be used for provenance analyses.
• Areas of production of the ceramics tempered with obsidian can be detected.

This research deals with the obsidian-tempered ceramics of the Chalcolithic period in the Southern Caucasus in order to assess their viability for provenance studies. Samples of obsidian-tempered ceramics from the site of Aratashen (Armenia) were analysed by means of Laser Ablation High Resolution Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry. A similar procedure was applied to some experimentally fired clays tempered with the same obsidians as the archaeological samples. The results of these analyses show that there are not modifications in concentration of heavy and rare earths elements in the obsidians employed as a ceramic-temper. Consequently, obsidian temper can be used for provenance studies.These analyses have shown that obsidians coming from different sources were employed for ceramic-tempering. In some of these cases, a local production of these ceramics can be suggested. A new model of acquisition and use of the obsidians related to different craft-activities, tool knapping and ceramic production, is also proposed for the site of Aratashen.