Value, significance and use of 'exotic' materials – in the light of the presence of obsidian on Neolithic sites in Poland

Abstract

At Neolithic archaeological sites in Poland, obsidian stands out as the most common ‘exotic’ raw material. Thereare over several hundred Neolithic sites where artefacts made from this raw material have been recovered. Given the absence of natural obsidian outcrops in Poland, it is evident that these artefacts were imported to the sites through various means, such as direct procurement or exchanges.One of the most extensive collections was found at Opatów, representing the Samborzec-Opatów group of the Late Neolithic. This collection forms the core of our discussion, in which we aim to explore the economic systems involved in the acquisition of obsidian. Results obtained from our analyses (technological, morphological, and traceological) constitute the foundation for considering various hypotheses regarding the significance and value of ‘exotic’ materials for Neolithic communities.