Archaeological Research Facility

The analysis here of 63 artifacts from a BMIII site at Chaco Culture National History Park, northwest New Mexico indicates a diverse obsidian provenance assemblage dominated by northern New Mexico Jemez Lineament obsidian sources, particularly those in the southern Jemez Mountains (Canovas Canyon Rhyolite - 48.3%, and the two sources in the Mount Taylor Volcanic Field (Horace/La Jara Mesa - 31.7%, and Grants Ridge - 10%). A few of the artifacts were produced from three other Jemez Mountains sources (Valles Rhyolite-Cerro del Medio, n=4; and Cerro Toledo Rhyolite and El Rechuelos, one each). Based on the obsidian source provenance, the results suggest a relatively large procurement range/interaction sphere, and habitation of this site possibly after movement from the south and/or east (see discussion).