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Obsidian hydration dating occurs as geochemical method of determining age in either absolute or even proportional terms of an artefact manufactured of obsidian.
Obsidian is the volcanic glass that wwhen sometimes utilized as raw poop for the manufacture of stone tools. Once an archeologist has identified a source of the obsidian from either which an artefact is manufactured, it can be suspire up to now the artefact using the obsidian hydration system. This measures a microscopic amount of water absorbed on freshly broken shells. A principle behind obsidian hydration dating is very simple–a yearner a artefact surface has been studied, a thicker a hydration band is. Obsidian hydration could imply an artefact's age in case a dateable shells tested come lone victims studied by flintknapping. Obsidian hydratiin is non effectual on shells that come uneven referable gradual weathering from either natural forces.
Sequentially to utilise obsidian hydration for even even absolute dating, the conditions that a sample has been contaminated to & its origin must become understood or or in comparison samples of a known age (e.g. following of radiocarbon dating of associated materials.
History
Obsidian hydration dating was introduced within 1960 by Irving Friedman and Robert Smith of the U.S. Geological Survey.
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