Resumen de The obsidian assemblages from the Wadi Rabah occupations at Ein Zippori, Israel
Heeli C. Schechter, Avi Gopher, Nimrad Getzov, Erin Rice, Alla Yaroshevich, Ianir Milevski
A total of 266 obsidian items were found during four seasons of excavation at the Late Prehistoric site of Ein Zippori, Israel. Most of the assemblage was assigned to the Wadi Rabah culture. The obsidian artefacts originated in three Anatolian sources – Cappadocian Göllü Dağ and eastern Anatolian Bingöl A and B. Several colour and texture differences were noticed on some of the items from the different sources. The presence of items such as flakes, blades, core trimming elements, cores and tools reflect some on-site production. The high ratio of tools and bladelet segments to other debitage items may indicate an import of prepared bladelets and tools to the site as well. Pressure was dominantly used, probably alongside percussion, and signs of non-specialized production may be apparent. Tool design and retouch characteristics point to a highly standardized transverse arrowhead production (or import), several different bead-making traditions, and a distinction between the shaping (retouch) of blade and bladelet tools, perhaps indicating a distinction in use.
