PROVENANCE OF OBSIDIAN EXCAVATED FROM LATE CHALCOLITHIC LEVELS AT THE SITES OF TELL HAMOUKAR AND TELL BRAK, SYRIA*

Abstract

X‐ray fluorescence and laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA–ICP–MS) analyses conducted on 40 obsidian samples from the Late Chalcolithic 2 levels at Tell Hamoukar and Tell Brak in north‐east Syria have shown trends towards the exploitation of obsidian sources in the eastern Taurus. While the Bingöl region appears to provide the majority of obsidian to both sites, there is also evidence of more minor exploitation of a source in the Lake Van area and an altogether unknown source (X). This paper presents the data acquired from the analyses of the archaeological obsidian and situates these results within their chronological and regional contexts.