Spread of obsidian and mobility pattern of humans in the South-Eastern Black Sea Coast
Spread of obsidian and mobility pattern of humans in the South-Eastern Black Sea Coast

Summary/Abstract: Archaeological excavations conducted at various times along the southeastern Black Sea coast (Ajara) have revealed stone age sites, with a notable collection of flint and obsidian. However, the precise origins of obsidian remain ambiguous. In recent years, Georgian and USA researchers have published noteworthy works connected to origins of obsidian artefacts [Chkhatarashvili, Glascock 2022; Chkhatarashvili et all. 2024a; Chkhatarashvili et all. 2024b]. This work present the results of geochemical analyses conducted on obsidian artefacts discovered at the sites of Kvirike, Jikhanjuri, and Choloki, located within the Kobuleti municipality. The research was carried out using the XRF method at the Archaeometry Laboratory at the University of Missouri Reactor Research (MURR). The analysis identified four different sources of obsidian supply, which once again indicates that the Caucasus region has been an active zone of human mobility and contact since ancient times.

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