Obsidian Sources in Baja California



Source: Lágrimas de Apache
Location: Near the mouth of the Colorado River
Chemical Characterization: Panich et al. 2012; Panich, Michelini, and Shackley 2013
Archaeological Occurrences: El Mayor
Other References: Panich, Michelini, Bendímez, and Shackley 2013; Téllez et al. 2013
Comments: This material occurs in small nodules measuring 2-5 cm; its prehistoric use may have been extremely limited.
Source: Unknown (Santa Catarina)
Location: Unknown
Chemical Characterization: (Panich, Michelini, and Shackley 2013)
Archaeological Occurrences: Santa Catarina, Vallecitos, Piedras Gordas, Murillo
Comments: The location of the geologic source has not been determined.
Source: San Felipe
Location: On the east coast near San Felipe
Chemical Characterization: (Bouey 1984:57; Panich et al. 2012; Panich, Michelini, and Shackley 2013)
Archaeological Occurrences: Southwestern Alta California, Bahía de los Angeles, San Quintín-El Rosario
Other References: Banks 1971; Panich, Michelini, Bendímez, and Shackley 2013
Comments: The location of the geologic source has not been determined.
Source: Arroyo Matomí
Location: On the Gulf coast south of San Felipe
Chemical Characterization: Shackley 2004a
Archaeological Occurrences: Guerrero Negro
Other References: Bouey 1984:55-56; Douglas 1981
Source: Puerto el Parral
Location: In the northern Sierra Santa Isabel, south of Arroyo Matomí
Chemical Characterization: Moore 2001; Panich, Michelini, and Shackley 2013; Shackley 1998a, 1998b
Archaeological Occurrences: San Quintín
Comments: This is an eroded surface deposit with small nodules averaging 5-7 cm in length. This may be the same source as Arroyo Matomí.
Source: Kiekierly
Location: On the Gulf coast, about 5 km south of Puertecitos
Chemical Characterization: Panich, Michelini, and Shackley 2013
Archaeological Occurrences: Laguna Chapala
Comments: The location of the geologic source has not been determined.
Source: El Regino
Location: On the Gulf coast about 10 km south of Puertecitos
Chemical Characterization: Panich, Michelini, and Shackley 2013
Archaeological Occurrences: In the vicinity of the source
Source: San Luis Gonzaga
Location: On the east coast near San Luis Gonzaga
Chemical Characterization: Shackley 1997
Archaeological Occurrences: Bahía de los Angeles
Comments: Initially designated as Unknown D
Source: Isla Angel de la Guarda
Location: On an island in the central Gulf of California; however, Thomas Bowen questions whether the true source of this chemical type is on Isla Angel de la Guarda
Chemical Characterization: Shackley 1994
Archaeological Occurrences: Bahía de los Angeles, San Borja, Guerrero Negro
Source: Unknown A
Location: not identified
Chemical Characterization: (Shackley 1995)
Archaeological Occurrences: San Borja, Bahía de los Angeles, Bahía Concepción
Comments: Nodule and large core at Bahía de los Angeles suggests that the source may be near there
Source: Unknown C
Location: not identified
Chemical Characterization: (Shackley 1994)
Archaeological Occurrences: Bahía de los Angeles
Source: Unknown D
Location: not identified
Chemical Characterization: (Shackley 1994)
Archaeological Occurrences: Bahía de los Angeles
Source: Unknown E
Location: not identified
Chemical Characterization: (Shackley 1995)
Archaeological Occurrences: Bahía de los Angeles
Source: Ensenada del Pescador
Location: On the east coast southeast of Bahía de los Angeles
Chemical Characterization: Shackley 1995
Archaeological Occurrences: Possible prehistoric use of obsidian at the source
Comments: One nodule with a flake scar has been found
Source: Valle de Azufre
Location: Near the east coast northeast of San Ignacio
Chemical Characterization: Gutiérrez and Hyland 2002:316; Hyland 1997:262; Shackley et al. 1996:723; on line
Archaeological Occurrences: Sierra de San Francisco, Vizcaíno Desert, Isla Cedros, Bahía Concepción, Bahía de los Angeles, San Javier
Comments: This is the largest and most intensively exploited source known in Baja California.
Other References: Hyland and Gutiérrez 1995b; Ritter and Payen 1992:263; Tuohy 1978:80
Source: Punta Mangles
Location: On the east coast north of Loreto
Chemical Characterization: Bouey 1984:57
Archaeological Occurrences: Bahía Concepción
Other References: Ritter 1979a:120; Shackley et al. 1996:727

(References in parentheses for chemical characterizations are based on archaeological specimens rather than source samples.)