Isotopic evidence for the provenance of turquoise in the southwestern United States

Abstract

Research Article| November 01, 2015 Isotopic evidence for the provenance of turquoise in the southwestern United States Alyson M. Thibodeau; Alyson M. Thibodeau 1Department of Earth Sciences, University of Toronto, Earth Sciences Centre, 22 Russell Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3B1, Canada3Department of Geosciences, University of Arizona, 1040 E. 4th Street, Tucson, Arizona 85721, USA †Current address: Department of Earth Sciences, Dickinson College, Carlisle, Pennsylvania 17013, USA; thibodea@dickinson.edu. Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar David J. Killick; David J. Killick 2School of Anthropology, University of Arizona, 1009 South Campus Drive, Tucson, Arizona 85721, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Saul L. Hedquist; Saul L. Hedquist 2School of Anthropology, University of Arizona, 1009 South Campus Drive, Tucson, Arizona 85721, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar John T. Chesley; John T. Chesley 3Department of Geosciences, University of Arizona, 1040 E. 4th Street, Tucson, Arizona 85721, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Joaquin Ruiz Joaquin Ruiz 3Department of Geosciences, University of Arizona, 1040 E. 4th Street, Tucson, Arizona 85721, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar GSA Bulletin (2015) 127 (11-12): 1617–1631. https://doi.org/10.1130/B31135.1 Article history received: 20 May 2014 rev-recd: 23 Feb 2015 accepted: 04 May 2015 first online: 08 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Alyson M. Thibodeau, David J. Killick, Saul L. Hedquist, John T. Chesley, Joaquin Ruiz; Isotopic evidence for the provenance of turquoise in the southwestern United States. GSA Bulletin 2015;; 127 (11-12): 1617–1631. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/B31135.1 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGSA Bulletin Search Advanced Search Abstract The archaeological record shows that turquoise was widely mined and highly valued by pre-Hispanic societies in the southwestern United States, and it has long been assumed that much of the turquoise noted in ancient Mesoamerica was traded from this region. However, little is understood about the acquisition and exchange of turquoise by Native American societies because the geological sources of most turquoise artifacts from archaeological sites in the southwestern U.S. and Mexico are not known. We evaluate the potential for Pb and Sr isotopic ratios to indicate the geological provenance of turquoise artifacts recovered from these regions. Pb and Sr isotopic measurements were made on 137 geological samples of turquoise from 19 mining districts across the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. These data reveal that isotopic signatures of turquoise deposits vary geographically according to regional and local differences in the geologic settings of turquoise mineralization. As an archaeological case study, we also report Pb and Sr isotopic data on 10 turquoise artifacts recovered from three late pre-Hispanic (ca. A.D. 1250–1400) ancestral Zuni sites located in the El Morro Valley of western New Mexico. These have isotopic signatures uniquely consistent with the turquoise deposits of the Cerrillos Hills, a location identified in Zuni traditional history as an ancient source of turquoise. These data thus establish Pb and Sr isotopic measurements as powerful tools for determining the sources of turquoise artifacts and provide a new framework for evaluating the role of turquoise in pre-Hispanic exchange networks across North America. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.

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