This edited volume about lithic provenance studies provides a timely overview of the various methods and techniques used by archaeologists to characterize chert, limestone, obsidian, fine-grained volcanics, and other lithic raw materials. Examples are provided from diverse global contexts in North America, South America, Europe, Africa, and Australia. As Charles A. Speer, Ryan M. Parish, and Gustavo Barrientos state in their introduction, “The purpose of this volume is to present the reader with a clear concept of the direction that stone tool sourcing research is currently progressing toward with the integration of multiple techniques and methods” (p. 2). In contrast to much of the current sourcing literature, primacy is not placed on obsidian, and the book highlights the complexities of chert sourcing while also dispelling the erroneous notion that chert or other lithic raw materials cannot be sourced.
The volume grew from a series of papers presented at the Eleventh International Symposium on Knappable Materials in Buenos Aires in 2017. It includes an introduction by the coeditors and two parts with seven and six chapters, respectively; the last chapter is a concluding commentary and critique by Michael D. Glascock of the University of Missouri Research Reactor based on his experience in the field spanning more than 40 years. The first part, “Variations on a Theme: Sourcing through Qualitative and Quantitative Methods,” focuses on novel methods and techniques, including multidisciplinary survey strategies, applicable characterization techniques and instrumentation, and broader theoretical issues. Most chapters in this section focus on locating and characterizing chert sources. The second part of the book, “Regional Perspectives and Sourcing under Variable Conditions,” highlights specific provenance studies from various archaeological contexts. As is often the case with edited volumes, it is difficult to coherently group disparate chapters into component sections. Yet, despite their assorted topics, the book flows well, and each chapter is relatively short and concise, making the overall product easily digestible and the broader themes apparent. Typos are virtually nonexistent, and the book's inclusion of color images and an index is much appreciated. Strangely, the authors’ affiliations and contact information are not provided.
Instead of chronicling each chapter individually as is already done in the introductory and concluding chapters, I focus here on several of the book's broader themes and salient points. The first is that of “knowing the lithic landscape” (p. 4), which in this book refers to the importance of documenting lithic outcrops in detail to better understand how humans interacted with these resources. Several chapters call attention to how variation in the size and shape of natural cobbles can affect eventual reduction strategies, and in cases where raw material distribution is extensive, certain areas may have been preferred over others because of these inconsistencies. The importance of mapping the distribution of both primary and secondary lithic deposits is similarly underscored by multiple authors. Where there is extensive secondary deposition, calculating straight-line distances from geological sources to archaeological sites becomes complicated, but this is nevertheless a key measurement that archaeologists use to address questions about past human mobility.
Most chapters concern the early stages of raw material characterization, establishing the importance of interdisciplinary research efforts to document a source and the use of multiple analytical techniques to better understand inter- and intra-source variation. I would further argue that there is a need to consistently publish raw data in these contexts to allow for inter-laboratory comparisons where applicable. Chert sourcing is still in its infancy, so it is perhaps not surprising that the current volume lacks large-scale artifact sourcing studies that intersect with relevant archaeological questions. As the field matures, it will require further integration with the wider body of provenance literature, particularly obsidian studies, that demonstrate how sourcing can effectively address significant anthropological and archaeological questions. Moreover, as Khori Newlander argues in his chapter, “The Promise and Challenge of Sourcing Chert Artifacts in the North American Great Basin,” it is crucial to understand the interplay between obsidian conveyance patterns and those of other raw materials, which often operate at different spatial scales and in combination contribute to more nuanced views of procurement ranges, exchange mechanisms, and patterns of mobility.
Considering that lithic raw materials are nearly ubiquitous, the book is of clear value to students, academics, and CRM professionals, providing practical details about geoarchaeological survey strategies and instrumental analyses while connecting these efforts to the interpretation of human behavior. The book thus makes a significant contribution to stone tool sourcing research and reveals an innovative roadmap for those interested in pursuing similar studies in other archaeological contexts. As Glascock notes at the end of the book, “There is still much to be learned” (p. 179).
