Chemical characterisations of Carpathian obsidian sources by instrumental and epithermal neutron activation analysis

Obsidian samples from the Tokaj Mountains (Hungary) and from the neighbouri ng Zemplin Hills (Slovakia) were analysed by instrumental and epithermal ne utron activation analysis for obtaining a "fingerprint" for discrimination of potential natural sources of raw material that would permit tracing the origin of archaeological obsidian artefacts. These techniques fully discrim inate the Zemplin Hills sources (Carpathian I, eastern Slovakia) and the To kaj Mountain sources (Carpathian II, north-eastern Hungary) as well as thes e Central European sources from those already studied of the Mediterranean basin and adjacent regions.