Archaeological Research Facility

The analysis here of 55 obsidian artifacts from a number of sites in the Big Bend Region of southwest Texas indicates procurement of obsidian for tool production from sources in New Mexico, Chihuahua, and a significant as yet unlocated source possibly from the Big Bend region (TX Unknown A). This diverse provenance assemblage is dominated by Cerro Toledo Rhyolite obsidian, a Rio Grande secondary deposit source from northern New Mexico, Los Jagueyes a secondary source along the Rio Santa Maria in northeastern Chihuahua, Sierra Fresnal in the range by the same name, and Lago Fredrico, another source defined by only two source standards (Shackley 2005; see Figures 1 and 2 here). The number of as yet located primary sources in northwest Mexico and probably southwest Texas frustrates provenance studies in the region (cf Lintz et al. 2014; Hughes 2019). Included is a short discussion of the regional geology as relevant for geoarchaeological studies as well as a short description of the sources, and a discussion of results.