In the western Mediterranean, obsidian from four volcanic island sourc
es was used beginning in the Neolithic period. The geological sources
on Lipari, Palmarola, and Pantelleria have been located and chemically
characterized; until now, however, the Monte Arci sourer in Sardinia
was better known from the analysis of archaeological rather than geolo
gical specimens. The results of a comprehensive field survey and chara
cterization study of the obsidian sources in Sardinia are presented he
re, and finally allow all obsidian artefacts of western Mediterranean
origin to be attributed to specific sources using minimally destructiv
e and relatively inexpensive methods of analysis. Five chemically dist
inct sources in the Monte Arci region were exploited, with their locat
ion and the physical properties of the obsidian itself contributing to
chronologically and spatially diverse frequency-of-use patterns. (C)
1997 Academic Press Limited.