Obsidian from the Epipalaeolithic and Neolithic eastern Maghreb. A view from the Hergla context (Tunisia)

• Published in: Journal of archaeological science Vol. 37; no. 10; pp. 2529 - 2537
• Main Authors: Mulazzani, Simone, Le Bourdonnec, François-Xavier, Belhouchet, Lotfi, Poupeau, Gérard, Zoughlami, Jamel, Dubernet, Stéphan, Tufano, Emiliano, Lefrais, Yannick, Khedhaier, Rym
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 2010; Elsevier
• Subjects: Africa; Archaeology and Prehistory; Condensed Matter; Earth Sciences; Epipalaeolithic; Europe; Generalities; Geochemistry; Hergla; Humanities and Social Sciences; Lithic industry; Materials Science; Methodology and general studies; Neolithic; North Africa; Obsidian; Pantelleria; Physics; Prehistory and protohistory; Provenance; Sciences of the Universe; South West Europe; Tunisia; Typology, technology and attribute analysis; Mesolithic; Epipalaeolithic; Neolithic; Mediterranean; Italy; Tunisia; Europe; Africa; Provenance; Hergla; Obsidian; Pantelleria; Tunisia; Epipalaeolithic; Neolithic; Origin; Analysis; Archaeometry; Source
• ISSN: 0305-4403; 1095-9238
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jas.2010.05.013

In the present paper, it is shown that in the Hergla area (eastern Tunisia), obsidian was present from the early to at least the late sixth millennium cal BC. The presence of cores indicates that obsidian knapping was at least partly carried out
in situ. The origin of these obsidians was determined from their elemental composition, by comparison with those originating from western Mediterranean potential sources, including analyses of new samples from the nearby Pantelleria Island. All obsidians were measured following the same protocol, by particle induced X-ray emission or by scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersion spectrometry. All the Hergla obsidians were found to originate from the Balata dei Turchi sources of Pantelleria. A review of the present body of knowledge on eastern Maghreb suggests, in spite of the still very preliminary data available, that Pantelleria was almost its unique provider of obsidians from the Epipalaeolithic to and during the Neolithic. However, the relative importance of the two main Pantellerian sources of Balata dei Turchi and Lago di Venere as providers of obsidian to eastern Maghreb remains to be investigated.