Portable-XRF Analysis of Archaeological Obsidian from Rebun Island, Japan

Archaeological excavations on Rebun Island, Japan, reveal that obsidian—a material not found naturally on the island—was used continuously from the Middle Jomon period (5400–4300 cal. YBP) through to the Okhotsk period (1500–750 YBP). This suggests significant long-distance trade or transportation of raw materials and tools, a pattern consistent with broader prehistoric lithic industries in northeast Asia. To trace the origins of this obsidian, researchers employed portable-XRF analysis on artifacts from three sites: Uedomari 3, Kafukai 1, and Hamanaka 2. The findings promise to illuminate shifts in resource procurement and distribution among hunter-gatherer communities during these periods, offering new insights into the economic and cultural dynamics of prehistoric Northern Japan.

Lynch, S. C. (2013). Portable-XRF Analysis of Archaeological Obsidian from Rebun Island, Japan [University of Alberta Library]. https://doi.org/10.7939/R35D76