International Association for Obsidian StudiesBulletin

Number 25

lAOS Business Address: Michael A. Gottesman. lAOS Secretary­Treasurer. 4291 Arvada Street. Torrance, CA 90503

Bulletin assembled and edited by William J. McFarlane

CONTENTS

News Gild Ill/ormation - IAbstracts Gild Annotations - 4

Aboullhe lAOS - 8

NEWS AND INFORMATION

NEW BY-LAWS NOW IN FORCE

The updated by-laws, sent to all members, havebeen passed and are now in force. Currently theIAOS has 91 individual voting members. Voteswere received from 33. Thirty-one (31) votes wereYES, one was NO and one had no entry.

Considering the usual 'tum-out' for politicalelections, this result augurs well for the continuinginterest in the IAOS by our membership.Interestingly, thirteen (13) replies were by emailwhile the remainder of 18 utilized the includedpostcards.

There are advantages to each voting method ­email is convenient and fast while snail-mail can beanonymous (but most postcards had returnaddresses - only a total of 8 votes wereanonymous).

My conclusion is that postcards are veryeffective and should be the primary voting methodwhen voting for officers but to allow for emailvoting as an alternative. If there are other votingissues, perhaps email could or should be theprimary means and use snailmail as the backup.

Winter 2000

Interim Membership & Financial Report

-We need new ideas

At the current time, the IAOS has a total of$7620 and 96 members including Institutions.With a sample set of only two (2) newsletters undermy belt, it would appear that the financial 'burn­rate' is about $200/issue.

This means that we are in a very solid positionfinancially, but our membership is staying verystatic - each year we add a few, lose a few. As anorganization, is this what we want?

Further, it seems to me that the utilizationand acceptance of obsidian sourcing and/or datingdata in resolving archaeological problems is notincreasing. If this is also true from your point-of­view, what - if anything - should the IAOS doabout it?

Please send ideas or commentary and thenthese can become discussion points next April In

Philadelphia (the SAA's - remember??).

- Mike Gottesman

The IAOS will be offering two competItivefunding opportunities to students. A $500 stipendwill be given to the organizer (or co-organizers) ofa session at the next Society for AmericanArchaeology meetings in New Orleans. Thesession topic is open to any aspect of obsidianstudies, including but not limited to methodologicaland theoretical issues of sourcing and dating,exchange, production, or use of obsidian artifacts.Interested students should send a one page proposalto Michael Elam at jme@utkux.utcc.utk.edu byJuly 1,2000. The recipient of this stipend will alsoreceive a one year IAOS membership.

A $500 grant will also be offered by the IAOSduring the next year. Students conducting researchon any aspect of obsidian are eligible to apply.Please send a proposal no longer than one page inlength to Michael Elam by November 1,2000.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

5-9 April 2000 - 65'" Annual Meeting of theSociety for

American Archaeology, Philadelphia.19-22 April 2000- 34'" Annual Meeting of the Societyfor

California Archaeology, Riverside, California.Get your events added to Ilze calendar listillgs bydropping all e-mail note 10 the editor.

The International Association for ObsidianStudies has sponsored a forum at the 65th AnnualMeeting of the Society for American Archaeology,Philadelphia. The forum will be held in Salon Cbetween 8:00-J 1:00 AM, Sunday 9 April. Thesession is organized by Rissa M. Trachman and isentitled: Obsidian Studies in the Maya Region.

Forum Abstract

Examining the organization of obsidian productionhas the potential to contribute to our understandingof Ancient Maya social, economic, and politicalorganization. These considerations are oftenapproached from three perspectives: 1) productionand technology; 2) tool function; and 3) regionaltrade and exchange patterns. The papers in thissession will outline these perspectives, and attemptto bridge them by identifying possible variablesaffecting different research areas across the Mayaregion. Data presented from recent investigationsinto procurement, distribution, technology, andconsumption have the capacity to provideimportant insights into ancient Maya society.

Individual paper abstracts:

Valdez, F.Macroblade Unifaces from Sta. Leticia: Re­analyzing Function

The research focus of this paper centers on are-analysis of obsidian macroblade artifacts fromSta. Leticia, EI Salvador. The Sta. Leticia unifaces

were previously reported/described as "scrapers"based on morphological characteristics. This studyconducted macro- and micro-wear analysis on eachartifact as related to implied functionalcategorization. The results of the analysis, as wellas comparative wear analysis interpretations for theunifacial artifacts are posited.

Haines, H. R., K.A. Cox, and M.D. GlascockOld Stones, New Thoughts?: Interpreting theObsidian Data from Blue Creek Ruin, Orange WalkDistrict, Northwestern Belize

Situated on the Rio Bravo Escarpment innorthwestern Belize, the Blue Creek Ruin wasafforded both a stunning view of Belize's CoastalPlain and easy access to the navigatable RiosBravo, Azul, and Hondo. If, as has beenpostulated, these were used as trade routes, theserivers provided the occupants of the Blue Creekarea with passage to both the interior of the Petenand the coast as well as access to goods that wereshipped between these and exotic regions.Concentrating on the obsidian discovered atnumerous different locations in and around theBlue Creek Ruin, this paper is intended to servetwo purposes: first, it adds to the growing databaseof information about obsidian use at sites innorthwestern Belize, and second, it offers newmethods of presenting and analyzing this material.

Ford, A.Specialization and Interdependencies: The Contextof Obsidian Production in the Central MayaLowlands

The evolution of ancient Maya civilization isfounded on effective political management of thesubsistence economy. With population growth and

centralization, there is increasing specializationwithin the economy. Initially specializationemerges in the essential household productionsphere at the margins of the subsistence economy.With increasing interdependencies, specializationin the political economy evolves to integrategrowing population. The obsidian production sitein the Laton settlement area, of the Belize RiverArea, is an example of the development ofspecialization within the political economy of theMaya. The economic context is discussed in

Jlltematiollal Association ofObsidian Studies1999-2000

comparison to essential household specialization,such as chert-tool production. It is argued that thedistinctions are linked to the increasinginterdependencies of the political economy. President Geoffrey Braswell

President-EleCl J. Michael Elam

web site: http://www.peak.orglobsidianlobsidian.html

Trachman, R.MEarly Classic Obsidian CorelBlade Production: AnExample from the Site of Dos Hombres, Belize

Business Office:lAOS Secretary-Treasurer

492 I Arvada StreetTorrance, CA 90503

exchange in the development of Classic Mayastate-level society. These artifacts pertain to theEarly Preclassic (1400-900 B.C.) through the EarlyPostclassic Period (A.D. 900-1100) and can serveas a sensitive indicator for reconstructing oneaspect of long-term changing patterns of the pre­Columbian Maya political and economic systems.I also discuss the implications of the present studyfor ancient Mesoamerican urbanism by examiningthe regional context of urban functions.

Irving FriedmanRoger Green

Craig E. Skinner

William J. McFarlaneCarleen Sanchez

Michael A. GonesmanSecretary-Treasurer

lAOS Board of Advisors

WebmaSlcr

Bulletin Editors

The Program for Belize ArchaeologicalProject's 1997 season produced a large collectionof obsidian artifacts from an Early Classic tomb atthe site of Dos Hombres, Belize. Although foundin ritual context, a discussion of the types ofartifacts present will demonstrate that thecollection largely represents production debris.Evidence is also introduced for a previouslyunreported platform creation/rejuvenationtechnique, which invloves initiating a break from apecked or scored line forming the platform. Theplatform creation/rejuvenation techniqueresembles a method used in modern glass cutting tobreak glass rods. Broader implications are

Analysis of the lithic assemblage from LosAchiotes, located near the Maya polity of Copan,Honduras has identified different modes ofresource acquisition and distribution within thisrural Preclassic community. Apart from traditionaltrade routes managed through Copan, Los Achiotesaccessed a northern trade route through theMotagua Valley. Participation in this altemateindependent interaction sphere promoted increasedcomplexity within this rural community, leading toa rise of a local and autonomous elite class.Interestingly, the development of this center wascut short before the Classic period, roughly duringthe period of llopango's destruction and Copan'sdynastic political ascension.

McFarlane, W., and M.-A. CanutoAnalysis of the Lithics from Los Achiotes,Honduras: Considering a Preclassic Community

McKillop, H, and T. WinemillerA GIS Approach to Spatial Analysis of Obsidianfrom Wild Cane Cay

Variability in the surface presence of obsidianat Wild Cane Cay was used as a gauge of activityareas. As a trading port, this exotic material wasabundant, thereby providing a sizable sample for aquantitative study. Obsidian collected from 191surface collection areas, each measuring 10 by 10meters, was analyzed for evidence of ancientactivities. The GIS, Integraph MGE, was used toexamine surface variability. Variables includenumber, weight, CEIM index, blade width, andsource, among others.

Aoyama, K.Craft Specialization, Exchange, and Classic MayaUrbanism: Obsidian Evidence from the CopanValley and the La Entrada Region, Honduras

This paper uses production and distributionpattems of 62,218 artifacts from the Copan Valleyand the La Entrada region in Honduras to betterunderstand the role of craft specialization and

addressed in order to put the ancient technique intosocial, political, and economic perspective.

Dreiss, M.L, D.O. Brown, and R. E. HughesObsidian Use in the Preclassic Period at the Site ofColha, Belize

Ninety-one obsidian samples from Preclassicproveniences at Colha, Belize were analyzed byXRF. Our results show significant temporal,spatia! and contextual patterning of threeGuatemalan obsidian sources. San Marti'nJilotepque obsidian is widely used in the Middleand Late Preclassic periods, but drops off in theTerminal Preclassic, with a concomitant rise inIxtepeque and EI Chayal use. Surprisingly, we findthat San Marti'n Jilotepeque is more prevalent indomestic middens, El Chayal more prevalent inarchitectural and ceremonial contexts, andIxtepeque more common in chert workshops.

Braswell, G.E.: Discussion -- The Emergence ofMarket Economies in the Ancient Maya World:Obsidian Exchange in Terminal Classic Yucata'n,Mexico.

Clark, J. E.: Discussion

Hirth, K.: Discussion

ABSTRACTS AND ANNOTATIONSCompiled by Janine Loyd

P.O. Box 7602CotaLi, CA 94931(707) 664-0809

(707) 588-9425 (fax)loyd@sonoma.edu

Anovitz, Lawrence, J. Michael Elam, LeeRiciputi, and David Cole

The Failure of Obsidian Hydration Dating:Sources, Implications, and New Directions.Journal of Archaeological Science 26:7, 735­752.

Obsidian hydration dating (OHD) originally

4 - lAOS Bulletin No. 25, Winter 2000

Folk Uses of ObsidianBy Carleen Sanchez

Talismans of the Southwest: Apache Tears

My First exposure to obsidian was as a little girlliving in Southern Colorado. On the numerous campingtrips taken with my family, it was common pracLice tosearch for Apache Tears- small river WOrn nodules ofobsidian. These small stones were believed to have beenthe solidified tears of lament dropped by Apache womenduring the Limes when the US Army pursued asystematic program to round-up the Apaches for forciblecontainment on reservations. The Apaches fought longand hard to maintain their freedom, and were the lastNative group to be subjugated. Apache tears, it wasbelieved, served as a visible reminder of the anguish ofthe people.

Throughout the Southwest, Apache tears have beenconsidered good luck charms, particularly to assuage anygrief that might come to the owner. As a child, Iremember scouring the ground around our camp sites inthe hopes of finding the elusive treasure. Sadly, I neverfound one. But, for those, such as myself, unable toprocure their own chann, trading posts and souvenirshops often stocked their own pile of obsidian treasure.So, for a nominal fee, a shield against bad luck could bepurchased. More industrious merchants even aUachedApache tears to key chains so they could be easilycarried at all Limes.

For me, however, I was never convinced of thestrength of a "store-bought" charm, its magic somehowdiminished by its easy obtainability. The most potentamulets, it seemed, were those found in nature, thosethat called out to be found by a deserving seeker.

promised to be a rapid, inexpensive, simple andreliable method for dating obsidian artefacts. Theperceived elegance of OHD resulted in rapidacceptance and widespread application despitequestion concerning its theoretical rigor. Withincreased usage it has become evident that, whileeconomical, simple and fast, OHD is unreliable.Here results of a secondary ion mass spectrometry(SIMS) study of obsidian and synthetic glassartefacts are presented that explain why OHD hasnot lived up to expectations. The results suggest

that the standard OHD equations areinappropriate and that traditional opticalmeasurements are inherently flawed. Althoughsignificant refinement will be needed, the resultssuggest that both chronological andpalaeoclimatic data might be obtained from glasshydration rims through an improved analyticalmethodology and more rigorous treatment of thedata.

B . R (11 P D' C (I) Aonettl, . , . I esare , .

Guglielmetti(l), F. Malerba(l), E. Migliorin{l),

M. Oddone(2), J. R. Bird (3), R. Torrence(4) &

R. J. Bultitude(5) 1998.

Fission Track Dating of Obsidian SourceSamples from the Willaumez Peninsula, PapuaNew Guinea and Eastern Australia. Records ofthe Australian Museum 50:277-284.

(1) Istituto di Fisica GeneraJe Applicata dell'Universita' di Milano, Via Celoria, 16 20133Milano, Italy. (2) Dipartimento di Chimicadell'Universita' di Pavia, Via Taramelli, 1227100 Pavia, Italy. (3) Australian NuclearScience and Technology Organization, Menai,NSW, 2234, Australia. (4) Division ofAnthropology, The Australian Museum, 6College Street, Sydney, NSW, 2000, Australia.(5) Department of Mines and Energy, 61 MaryStreet, Brisbane, Queensland, 4000, Australia.

Obsidian samples from several outcrops in theWillaumez Peninsula region of Papua NewGuinea and from eastern Australia have beendated by the fission track method for the firsttime. The Papua New Guinea samples yieldedyoung ages (n 25 Ka), whereas dates of 85.5 Mato 92.3 Ma were obtained for the Australiansamples after using the plateau age and track sizemethods to correct for track fading. TheAustralian outcrops are among the oldest knownobsidians in the world. The dates for the PapuaNew Guinea obsidian sources suggest that theymay not have been available at the time of thefirst human colonisation of the region. Thebeginning of obsidian trade c. 20,000 years agomay be tied up with availability of resourcesrather than for cultural reasons.

Escola, P., H. Yacobaccio, M. Glascock and F.Pereyra

Identification of Archaeological Obsidian Sourcesin the Southern Puna (Argentina). Paper Presentedat the Fourth World Archaeological CongressJanuary 1999 Cape Town, South Africa.

Over the past two decades, the desert highlands ofNW Argentina have been characterised by thepresence of intensive prehistoric exchangenetworks. Nevertheless, archaeologists, followingdiverse lines of evidence, keep obsidian sourcesand exchange studies out of current research. Theresults provided in the present work represent thefirst step toward obsidian sourcing research insouthern Puna. At least six obsidian sources havebeen localised in Catamarca and Salta provinces.Obsidian appears as small domes and lava flowsassociated with pumice, tephra and rhyolite, andlike boulders in neighboring alluvial fans and taluscones. The geological context, geographicallocalisation, and petrographical characterisation arepresented and discussed. In addition, chemicalanalyses by NAA and KJAr datation were done.This study establishes an initial database for futureobsidian provenance work in the Andeanhighlands.

Hawley, Marlin F. and Richard E. Hughes.

A source study of obsidian from the Infinity Site(l4my305), Kansas. Plains Anthropologist, August1999 v44 il69 p297 (9)

Three obsidian flakes were recovered from thernulticomponent Infinity site (I4MY305) insoutheast Kansas. Two flakes large enough (> 1 em)for provenance analysis via x-ray fluorescencewere manufactured from obsidian of the Malad,Idaho, chemical type. Over ·time, the flakes havecome to be explicitly associated with the MiddleWoodland Havana tradition Cuesta phase and havebeen used to link it, improbably, to the HopewellInteraction Sphere. While a Cuesta phaseassociation cannot be ruled out, other possibilitiesexist, especially an association with the site'sPomona variant component.

Hughes, Richard E. and Donna C. Roper. Sourcearea analysis of obsidian flakes from a Lower Loupphase site in Nebraska. Plains All/hropologist, Feb

lAOS Bulletin No. 25, Winter 2000 - 5

1999 v44 i167 p77(6)

Non-destructive energy dispersive x-rayfluorescence analysis was applied to obsidianflakes from 25LP8, a Lower Loup phase site inNebraska. All flakes have the same trace elementcomposition as volcanic glasses of the Cerro delMedio chemical type, located in the JemezMountains of northern New Mexico.

King, Jerome (Pacific Legacy, Inc.)

This paper will discuss artifact assemblages fromthe Skyrocket site and their relationship to anumber of regional chronologies, such as thosedeveloped for New Melones, Clarks Flat, andYosemite. These comparisons necessarily involve anumber of regional research questions, including,among others, the association between Pinto dartpoints and Western Stemmed Series; the definitionof an Alta Thermal assemblage (ca. 7,000 to 5,000BP); hydration rates for Bodie Hills obsidian; andchanges in mortality and morbidity over the last5,000 years.

Cultural Chronology and Settlement History ofthe Elk Hills. Paper presented at the 33'" AnnualMeeting of the Society for CaliforniaArchaeology, Sacramento, California.

Moholy-Nagy, HattulaMexican Obsidian atAmerican AntiquitySeptember 1999

Tikal, Guatemala. LatinVolume 10 Number 3

While previous studies of the prehistory of theBuena Vista Basin have focused primarily on theprominent, well-known sites around thelakeshore, recent research at a number of sites onthe former Naval Petroleum Reserve at Elk Hillshas provided a broader perspective on theprehistory of the region. A comparatively largesample of both obsidian hydration measurementsand radiocarbon dates also allows considerationof some technical problems with thesechronometric methods. A new interpretation ofobsidian hydration data indicates that theoccupational decline or hiatus previously positedfor the Basin beginning at about AD 1,000 is notapparent. Radiocarbon dates on freshwatermussel shell suggest that the use of this resourcereached its peak between AD I, I00 and 1,300, aperiod that corresponds with the well­documented Medieval climatic anomaly. Despitethe severe aridity of this interval, lakeshore andslough environments seem to have remainedproductive enough to permit intensive use offreshwater mussel, apparently as a fallbackresource.

Lajeunesse, Roger (CSU Fresno) and John Pryor

A View of the Central Sierra from the SkyrocketSite. Paper presented at the 33'" Annual Meetingof the Society for California Archaeology,Sacramento, California.

6 - lAOS Bulletin No. 25. Winter 2000

More than 1,200 artifacts from Tikal provide newinformation about the presence of Mexicanobsidian in the Maya Lowlands and Teotihuacan'spossible role in its transmission. In addition to thesource of green obsidian near Pachuca, six otherMexican sources were identified in the Tikalsample. These artifacts date from the early LatePreclassic into the Early Postclassic periods. Over96 percent are prismatic blades and thin bifaces,whose recovery contexts, spatial distributions, andsigns of use wear indicate they were predominantlyutilitarian and domestic artifacts used by all socialgroups. They were commodities that weretransported over Highland-Lowland long-distanceexchange networks of considerable time depth.This long-standing, interregional exchange ofgoods is essentially different from the relativelybrief adoption and integration during the EarlyClassic period of objects, art styles, and behaviorof Teotihuacan origin. Obsidian sequins andeccentrics of Teotihuacan style were materialcomponents of this latter phenomenon. Their formsand recovery contexts suggest use in ritualsborrowed from Teotihuacan, but by lesser elites orwealthy commoners rather than by Tikal's rulers.

ResumenMas de 1,200 artefactos de Tikal proporcionannuevos datos acerca de la presencia de obsidianamexicana en el area maya y el papel queTeotihuacan pudohaber tenido en su transmision.Ademas de la. fuente de obsidiana verde proxima a

Pachuca, Hidalgo, seis otras fuentes mexicanasaparecen en la muestra excavada en Tikal. Estosartefactos estlin fechados desde el perfodoPrechisico Tardio temprano hasta el PostclasicoTemprano. Mas del 96 porciento son navajasprismaticas y bifaciales, cuyos contextos,distribuciones espaciales, y huellas de usoindican que estos artefactos tenian funcionespredominantemente utilitarias y domesticas y queeran utilizados por todos grupos sociales. Estosartefactos eran mercancias transportadas entre lasTierras Altas y Tierras Bajas por rutas deconsiderable antigiiedad. Este intercambiointerregional de larga duracion de mercancfas esesencialmente diferente al de la adopcion eintegracion relati vamente breve durante elClasico Temprano de objetos, estilos de arte ycomportamientos procedentes de Teotihuacan.Las placas y excentricos de obsidiana de estiloteotihuacano eran partes de este fenomeno. Noeran utilizados por los soberanos de Tikal, sinopor las elites menores 0 por los plebeyos ricos.Sus forrnas y contextos sugieren su uso en ritosteotihuacanos, que no eran adoptados por laselites mas

Smith, Craig S.

Obsidian use in Wyoming and the concept ofcuration. Plains AllIhropologist, August 1999v44 il69 p271 (2)

The concept of curation has been extensivelyused in studies of the organization of flaked stonetool technology. This concept incorporates awide range of strategies and behaviors thatmobile hunter-gatherers would have employedunder disparate conditions. The quality andavailability of raw materials is one factorinfluencing how mobile hunter-gatherersmanufactured, used, and transported flaked stoneimplements. Because obsidian can be sourced toat least general locales, the examination ofobsidian use in locations at various distancesfrom its source provides a means ofunderstanding the role of distribution of rawmaterials. The results of x-ray fluorescencesourcing of 179 specimens from 18 excavatedsites in Wyoming and northern Colorado indicatethat the most important sources were ObsidianCliff, Bear Gulch, and Malad in eastern Idaho

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and northwest Wyoming, located approximately115 to 700 km from the excavated sites. It appearsthat mobile hunter-gatherers inhabiting the sitesnearest the obsidian sources brought blanks fromthe source to the site for further reduction. Byexchange with groups encountered during theirannual movements, the occupants of sites fartherfrom the sources obtained completed tools that theyconserved and maintained as individuals' personalgear.

Sutton, Mark and Matthew Des Lauriers (CSUBakersfield)

A Review of Obsidian Studies in the Southern SanJoaquin Valley, California. Paper presented at the33"' Annual Meeting of the Society for CaliforniaArchaeology, Sacramento, California.

Over the last ten years, a number of sites in thesouthern San Joaquin Valley have yielded obsidiandata. In this paper, these data are reviewed as toage, source, and geographic distribution. Severalinteresting patterns are beginning to emerge,including differential use of eastern Californiasources through time, an absence of northernCalifornia sources, and details of how obsidianmaterial was utilized in technology.

Ambrose, S.H. (1998) Chronology of the LaterStone Age and Food production in East Africa.Journal ofArchaeological Science 25: 377-392.

Scorzelli, R.B., Petrick,S., Rossi A.M., Poupeau G.,Bellot-Gurlet L., et Bigazzi G., (1999) Mossbauerspectroscopy and electron spin resonance ofMediterranean obsidians for archaeologicalprovenance identification, in: "Proceedings of the6" Intern. Conference on Non-destructive Testingand Microanalysis for the Diagnostic andConservation of the CulturaL and EnvironmentaLHeritage", Rome, 17-20 mai, Euroma (Rome), vol.3, 1893-1906.Bartolome E., Bellot-Gurlet L., Dorighel 0.,Poupeau G., Labrin E., et Yepez A. (1999) Origende la obsidiana de dos sitios de la cultura La Tolita­Tumaco (Ecuador) determinado mediantecaraterizaticion doble por anal isis PIXE y datacionpor trazas de fision, in: "Actas do II CongresoNacionaL de Arqueollletria," 16-19 Septebre 1997(Saragosse), Caesar Augusta 73, InstitucionFernando el Catolico, Saragosse, 289-299.

lAOS Bulletin No. 25. Winter 2000 - 7

TRY SOME OHD - FREEby Mike Gottesman

Over the past 4 years, UCLA has conducted alarge number of obsidian dating projccts using theAmbrose/Stevenson relative density/oh% method plusTrembour salt cells derived environmental data. Wenow have over 1300 dates from over 60 sites - themajority of which are from California (plus NewMexico, various Mayan sites, Mexico, and Argentina).

While the method must still be classified asexperimental, the results are quite encouraging. It ismy opinion that the resultant dates are within anarchaeologically useful accuracy (i.e. beyond relativedating) often enough-and that most of the "incorrect"dates can be explained. This is not a "f1avor-of-the­month" approach but rather it is another arrow in yourhow-old-is-it? quiver.

We would like to extend the range/type ofdating projects to especially include sites with goodalternative dating information AND particularly fromthose of you who have not tried this technique before.

So here's the deal: If you have a project thatis already completed - send me 10 samples of theparent obsidian from which hydration data is known.I will need the rind measurements, along with somebasic information about the site from which toestimate relative humidity (RH) and the effectivehydration temperature (EHn.

I will date these and send you an informalreport. The only cost is that you send me at least aninformal report on how the data fits in with priorconclusions, your opinion on the method, and whetheror not you would consider it for future work. (I canalso provide reference data, a "pro-forma" formalreport and - after proper coordination - share datafrom other sites in your area of interest.)

Contact me at: mgottesm@ucla.edu

8 - lAOS Bulletin No. 25, Winter 2000

NEW lAOS MEMBERS

The following people have joined the IAOS since thelast issue of the Bulletin:

Paul Amaroli, San Salvador, EI SalvadorHyung-Tae Kang, National Research Institute of

Cultural Property of Korea.Susan Maguire, SUNY-Buffalo

ABOUT THE lAOSThe lAOS was established to:

I. develop standards for analytic procedures andensure inter-laboratory comparability;

2. develop standards for recording and reportingobsidian hydration and characterization results;

3. provide technical support in the form of training andworkshops for those wanting to develop theirexpertise in the field, and;

4. provide a central source of information regardingthe advances in obsidian studies and the analytic

capabilities of various laboratories and institutions.

Membership

The lAOS needs membership to ensure success of theorganization. To be included as a member andreceive all of the benefits thereof, you may apply formembership in one of the following categories:

Regular member $20.00/year

• Institutional member $50.00• Student member $1O.00/year or free with

submission of paper to newsletter andcopy of current student identification

• Life-Time Member $200.00

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Regular members are individuals or institutionswho arc interested in obsidian studies, and wish tosupport the goals of the lAOS. Regular members willreceive any general mailings; announcements ofmeetings, conferences, and symposia; bulletins; andpapers distributed by the lAOS during the year.Regular members are entitled to auend and vote inAnnual Meetings.

Institutional members are those individuals,facilities, and institutions who are active in obsidianstudies and wish to participate in inter-laboratorycomparisons and standardization. If an institutionjoins, all members of that institution are listed as lAOSmembers, although they will receive only one mailingper institution. Institutional members will receiveassistance from, or be able to collaborate with, otherinstitutional members. Institutional members areautomatically on the Executive Board, and as such havegreater innuence on the goals and activities of thelAOS.

'Membership fee may be reduced and/or waived incases of financial hardship or difficulty in paying inforeign currency. Please complete the form and relUrnto the Secretary-Treasurer with a short explanationregarding lack of payment.

"Because membership fees are very low, thelAOS asks that all payments be made in US dollars ininternational money orders or checks payable on a bankwith a US branch. If you do not do so, much of yourdues are spent in currency exchange. If you wish tojoin us, mail a check or money order to the lAOS:Michael Gouesman, Secy-Treas., 4291 Arvada Street,Torrance CA 90503.

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CALL FOR ARTICLES ANDINFORMATION

Submissions of articles, short reports, abSlracts, orannouncements for inclusion in the newsletter arealways welcome. We accept electronic media onffiM-compatible diskeues in a variety of word­processing formats, but Word Perfect (up to 9.0) orWord 97 is preferred. A hard copy of the text andany figures should accompany disketles. Sendsubmissions to William J.McFarlane, SUNY­Buffalo, 380 MFAC, Ellicou Complex Amherst,NY 14261.

To send short contributions, discuss article ideas, ormake suggestions, please get in touch bye-mail:wjml@acsu.buffalo.edu

Reminder!Membership fees are due now. Please senda check or money order with membershipform as soon as possible to MichaelGottesman.

lAOS Bulletin No. 25, Wimer 2000 - 9

Yes, I'd like to renew my membership. A check or money order for the annual membership fee isenclosed (see below).

Yes, I'd like to become a member ofIAOS. A check or money order for the annual membershipfee is enclosed (see below). Please send my first issue of the IAOS Bulletin and a copy of thediskette-based (ffiM PC-compatible) IAOS Obsidian Bibliography. Please check disk formatrequired: _ 5 1/4 360 KB or _ 3 1/2 1.44 MB.

1 am a student (copy of ill enclosed) and 1 am enclosing an abstract for a published obsidianrelated article or submitting a paper to the IAOS for printing in the Bulletin. Please enter my freemembership. Please send the bibliography on _ 5 1/4360 KB or _ 3 1/2 1.44 MB diskette.

Not convinced, but want to know more?

Please send me a complimentary issue of the latest IAOS Bul.letin.Please send me a copy of the IAOS Obsidian Bibliography L 5 1/4 or _ 3 1/2) and acomplimentary copy of the IAOS Bulletin. My check or money order for $10 (refundable if I joinIAOS this calendar year) is enclosed.

Name ~ _

Title _

Street Address _

City, State, Zip

COUDtry _

Affiliation _

WorkPhone FAX # _

Home Phone (optional) _

E-Mail Address(es) _

My check or money order is enclosed for the following amount (please check one):

_ $10 Student (submit ill)_ $20 Regular Member

$50 Institutional Member$200 Lifetime Member

Please return this application to :IAOS

M. Gottesman4921 Arvada St.

Torrance, CA 90503-1413

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