MASS-PRODUCTION AND PROCUREMENT AT VALLE DEL AZUFRE - A UNIQUE ARCHAEOLOGICAL OBSIDIAN SOURCE IN BAJA-CALIFORNIA-SUR

Valle del Azufre is a newly discovered source of high-quality obsidian in central Baja California, which exhibits the most intensive exploit ation of any known source in the greater United States Southwest and N orthwest Mexico. Over 15 subsurface trenches and at least one adit occ ur at the source. Evidence for the prehistoric distribution of Valle d el Azufre obsidian is presented based on energy-dispersive x-ray fluor escence spectrometry characterization of the source material and artif acts from the Baja California peninsula. Despite the intensity of expl oitation at the source, the distribution of Valle del Azufre glass app ears to be largely restricted to the central part of the peninsula.