Instrumental analysis I: The Carpathian sources of raw material for obsidian tool-making

The characteristics of the Carpathian obsidians have been analysed by fission track dating method and by instrumental neutron activation analysis. Chemical analyses and geological dating techniques together discriminate the sources of the Tokaj Mountains (Carpathian I II) from other sources located in the Mediterranean and in Anatolia, Although part of the original primary sources cannot be located today, the best quality glass preferentially used by prehistoric man for tool-making comes in all probability from Eastern Slovakia. Prehistoric exploitation of the Tokaj obsidian sources started in early times, and the Upper Palaeolithic site Bodrogkeresztur-Henye had a remarkable role in this process.