New Evidence on Prehistoric Trade Routes: The Obsidian Evidence from Gilat, Israel

Abstract

AbstractObsidian artifacts are rare finds in prehistoric sites in Israel. The scarcity of the material and the absence of obsidian sources in Israel makes such artifacts especially important for understanding ancient exchange patterns. The closest sources of obsidian found in Israel are in the Cycladic Islands of Greece to the west and Anatolia to the north. Using neutron activation analysis (NAA), we identify the origin of seven obsidian artifacts from the Chalcolithic (ca. 4500–3500 B.C.) site of Gil at in Israel's northern Negev desert. These finds have been traced to the Nemrut Dagarea of eastern Anatolia, Gollu Dagin central Anatolia, and, most interestingly, Hotamis Dag also in central Anatolia.