Ellery Frahm revisits the origins of obsidian vessels in new publication

New research by Ellery Frahm challenges an old narrative. In the 1960s, the chemical signature of a single obsidian vessel was attributed to central Turkey, and these results cultivated the narrative that elites and/or early states were engaging in long-distance trade. However, by utilizing modern, non-destructive portable X-ray florescence (or pXRF) technology, Professor Frahm tested the geochemical signatures of a larger sample of vessels from Mesopotamia and Zagros and instead pinpointed obsidian sources in northeastern Turkey. By more accurately identifying the source of the material, researchers can assess the social significance of these vessels.