Provenance studies of obsidian artifacts: trace elements analysis and data reduction

Iron and trace elements, such as rare-earth elements, scandium, rubidium, cesium, tantalum, thorium and uranium were determined by instrumental neutron activation analysis in geological samples of obsidian rocks from the Mediterranean Area and in obsidian artifacts found in some prehistorical human settlements in Italy. REE patterns and discriminant analysis allow a firm identification of the source material of artifacts, thus confirming and implementing fission track data of the same artifacts and rocks on the origin of the obsidian rock used to mould the artifacts.