LAB ESSENTIALS ABOUT US CONTACT US XRF SUMMARY OH SUMMARY ADV SEARCH DOWNLOADS FAQ FIELD WORK GIS INFO HOW TO MAPS NEWS NEWSLETTER OH DETAILS $ PRICES $ REPORT LIST RESEARCH SOURCE UNIVERSE SUBMISSION FORM SUPPORT XRF DETAILS

Welcome to the Northwest Research Obsidian Studies Laboratory website. We offer a variety of different analytical services related to obsidian artifact trace element provenance ("sourcing") studies, obsidian hydration analysis, and obsidian source studies, primarily in the context of archaeological research. We also provide nondestructive artifact characterization studies for fine-grained volcanic materials (including basalt) in the Lake Tahoe region of California and a few other selected geographic areas. This website describes our services and provides methodological and source information that supplements and supports our contract investigations and research interests.

			THE OBSIDIAN HYDRATION LABORATORY IS OPEN: We reopened the obsidian hydration laboratory on April 1st of last year and plan to keep it that way. Click HERE for the rest of the story.
			OBSIDIAN SOURCE CATALOG TUNEUP BEGINS: We've begun adding additional basic information to the U.S. Source Catalog. The first state up for remodeling will be Utah, currently the home of several ongoing obsidian provenance projects.
			ATTENTION BRITISH COLUMBIA ARCHAEOLOGISTS: We've been trying for years to complete our inventory and geochemical survey of those hard-to-visit obsidian sources in British Columbia but need your help to finish the job. Click HERE for more information.
			SUMMER FIELD WORK: A particiularly productive 2009 field work season at the lab has finally wound down - click HERE for the details and for plans for 2010..
			SELECTED OBSIDIAN SOURCE MAPS ARE NOW AVAILABLE: We're still working diligently at producing obsidian source maps for the western United States and are continuing to add to our collection on a regular basis. To see our latest additions, click HERE.
			OREGON'S ELUSIVE UNKNOWN X SOURCE IS FINALLY FOUND: After almost 20 years of futile searching, we have finally located the Unknown X source at Newberry Volcano in Central Oregon. For an update about Unknown X and some other newly-recognized sources, click HERE.
			DOWNLOADS: In addition to the latest lab forms and our collection of articles and reports, we're compiling a growing selection of dissertations and theses available for downloading and would like to add some more. If your graduate research involved obsidian and you would like to join the list, please let us know.
			ONLINE INTERACTIVE PANORAMAS: We've lately been exploring the use of javascript-fueled panoramas as a way to supplement our online resources. Click HERE to have a look at our initial collection.
			FGV SOURCE CATALOG UPDATE IS UNDERWAY: We're currently revising and updating our FGV source catalog, a long-delayed and much-needed website project. For a sneak preview of what we're up to, click HERE. We'll gradually have more of the FGV site up and running soon.

OBSIDIAN SOURCE CATALOG	FGV SOURCE CATALOG