Obsidian Sourcing and Hydration

Source: Lágrimas de Apache
Location: Near the mouth of the Colorado River
Chemical Characterization: Panich et al. 2012; Panich, Michelini, and Shackley 2013
Archaeological Occurrences: El Mayor
Other References: Panich, Michelini, Bendímez, and Shackley 2013; Téllez et al. 2013
Comments: This material occurs in small nodules measuring 2-5 cm; its prehistoric use may have been extremely limited.
Source: Unknown (Santa Catarina)
Location: Unknown
Chemical Characterization: (Panich, Michelini, and Shackley 2013)
Archaeological Occurrences: Santa Catarina, Vallecitos, Piedras Gordas, Murillo
Comments: The location of the geologic source has not been determined.
Source: San Felipe
Location: On the east coast near San Felipe
Chemical Characterization: (Bouey 1984:57; Panich et al. 2012; Panich, Michelini, and Shackley 2013)
Archaeological Occurrences: Southwestern Alta California, Bahía de los Angeles, San Quintín-El Rosario
Other References: Banks 1971; Panich, Michelini, Bendímez, and Shackley 2013
Comments: The location of the geologic source has not been determined.
Source: Arroyo Matomí
Location: On the Gulf coast south of San Felipe
Chemical Characterization: Shackley 2004a
Archaeological Occurrences: Guerrero Negro
Other References: Bouey 1984:55-56; Douglas 1981
Source: Puerto el Parral
Location: In the northern Sierra Santa Isabel, south of Arroyo Matomí
Chemical Characterization: Moore 2001; Panich, Michelini, and Shackley 2013; Shackley 1998a, 1998b
Archaeological Occurrences: San Quintín
Comments: This is an eroded surface deposit with small nodules averaging 5-7 cm in length. This may be the same source as Arroyo Matomí.
Source: Kiekierly
Location: On the Gulf coast, about 5 km south of Puertecitos
Chemical Characterization: Panich, Michelini, and Shackley 2013
Archaeological Occurrences: Laguna Chapala
Comments: The location of the geologic source has not been determined.
Source: El Regino
Location: On the Gulf coast about 10 km south of Puertecitos
Chemical Characterization: Panich, Michelini, and Shackley 2013
Archaeological Occurrences: In the vicinity of the source
Source: San Luis Gonzaga
Location: On the east coast near San Luis Gonzaga
Chemical Characterization: Shackley 1997
Archaeological Occurrences: Bahía de los Angeles
Comments: Initially designated as Unknown D
Source: Isla Angel de la Guarda
Location: On an island in the central Gulf of California; however, Thomas Bowen questions whether the true source of this chemical type is on Isla Angel de la Guarda
Chemical Characterization: Shackley 1994
Archaeological Occurrences: Bahía de los Angeles, San Borja, Guerrero Negro
Source: Unknown A
Location: not identified
Chemical Characterization: (Shackley 1995)
Archaeological Occurrences: San Borja, Bahía de los Angeles, Bahía Concepción
Comments: Nodule and large core at Bahía de los Angeles suggests that the source may be near there
Source: Unknown C
Location: not identified
Chemical Characterization: (Shackley 1994)
Archaeological Occurrences: Bahía de los Angeles
Source: Unknown D
Location: not identified
Chemical Characterization: (Shackley 1994)
Archaeological Occurrences: Bahía de los Angeles
Source: Unknown E
Location: not identified
Chemical Characterization: (Shackley 1995)
Archaeological Occurrences: Bahía de los Angeles
Source: Ensenada del Pescador
Location: On the east coast southeast of Bahía de los Angeles
Chemical Characterization: Shackley 1995
Archaeological Occurrences: Possible prehistoric use of obsidian at the source
Comments: One nodule with a flake scar has been found
Source: Valle de Azufre
Location: Near the east coast northeast of San Ignacio
Chemical Characterization: Gutiérrez and Hyland 2002:316; Hyland 1997:262; Shackley et al. 1996:723; on line
Archaeological Occurrences: Sierra de San Francisco, Vizcaíno Desert, Isla Cedros, Bahía Concepción, Bahía de los Angeles, San Javier
Comments: This is the largest and most intensively exploited source known in Baja California.
Other References: Hyland and Gutiérrez 1995b; Ritter and Payen 1992:263; Tuohy 1978:80
Source: Punta Mangles
Location: On the east coast north of Loreto
Chemical Characterization: Bouey 1984:57
Archaeological Occurrences: Bahía Concepción
Other References: Ritter 1979a:120; Shackley et al. 1996:727

(References in parentheses for chemical characterizations are based on archaeological specimens rather than source samples.)

VICINITY SITE SOURCED SPECIMENS REFERENCES
San Quintín PASE 102 Puerto El Parral: 1 Moore 2001
San Quintín PASE 138 Puerto El Parral: 1 Moore 2001
San Quintín PASE 151 Puerto El Parral: 9
Arroyo Matomí: 1
Moore 2001
San Quintín PASE 161 Puerto El Parral: 1 Moore 2001
San Quintín PASE 185 Unknown B: 1 Moore 2001
San Quintín PASE 186 Puerto El Parral: 3 Moore 2001
San Quintín PASE 206 San Felipe: 1 Moore 2001
San Quintín PASE 241 Puerto El Parral: 1 Moore 2001
San Quintín PASE 249 Puerto El Parral: 3 Moore 2001
San Quintín PASE 268 San Felipe: 1 Moore 2001
San Quintín PASE 282 San Felipe: 1 Moore 2001
San Borja Agua de Higuera Unknown A: 8 Shackley 2004b
San Borja Valle San Julian Isla Angel de la Guarda: 1 Shackley 2004b
San Borja Camino San Borja Unknown A: 1 Shackley 2004b
San Borja San Ignacito Valle de Azufre: 2
Isla Angel de la Guarda: 1
Unknown A: 1
Shackley 2004b
San Borja Montevideo Isla Angel de la Guarda: 2 Shackley 1997
San Borja UCBC-53 Isla Angel de la Guarda: 4
Unknown A: 1
Shackley 1995
San Borja UCBC-61 Isla Angel de la Guarda: 5 Shackley 2004a, 2009
Bahía de los Angeles Aguaje de San Juan Isla Angel de la Guarda: 28
Unknown A: 19
San Felipe: 1
Shackley 1994, 1995, 1997
Bahía de los Angeles Las Tinajas Unknown A: 1 Shackley 1995
Bahía de los Angeles Campo Caguama Isla Angel de la Guarda: 2 Shackley 1995
Bahía de los Angeles UCBC-7 Isla Angel de la Guarda: 1 Shackley 1994
Bahía de los Angeles UCBC-13 Isla Angel de la Guarda: 4 Shackley 1994, 1997
Bahía de los Angeles UCBC-16 Unknown C: 1 Shackley 1994
Bahía de los Angeles UCBC-18 Isla Angel de la Guarda: 3 Shackley 1994
Bahía de los Angeles UCBC-19 Isla Angel de la Guarda: 5
Unknown D: 1
Shackley 1994
Bahía de los Angeles UCBC-30 Isla Angel de la Guarda: 4
Unknown A: 1
Shackley 1995, 1997
Bahía de los Angeles UCBC-45 Isla Angel de la Guarda: 3 Shackley 1995
Bahía de los Angeles UCBC-46 Isla Angel de la Guarda: 3
Unknown A: 1
Shackley 1995
Bahía de los Angeles UCBC-47 Isla Angel de la Guarda: 3
Unknown E: 1
Shackley 1995
Guerrero Negro LM-1 Valle de Azufre: 2 Shackley 1999:311, 2002:209
Guerrero Negro LM-2 Valle de Azufre: 6; unknown: 1 Shackley 1999:311, 2002:209
Guerrero Negro LM-4 Valle de Azufre: 3 Shackley 2002:209
Guerrero Negro LM-5 Valle de Azufre: 3; unknown: 1 Shackley 2002:209
Guerrero Negro LM-6 Valle de Azufre: 4; unknown: 1 Shackley 2002:209
Guerrero Negro LM-7 Valle de Azufre: 3 Shackley 2002:209
Guerrero Negro LM-8 Valle de Azufre: 1; unknown: 1 Shackley 2004a, 2009
Guerrero Negro LM-9 Valle de Azufre: 1; Isla Angel de la Guarda: 1 Shackley 2004a, 2009
Guerrero Negro LM-10 Valle de Azufre: 3 Shackley 2004a, 2009
Guerrero Negro LM-11 Valle de Azufre: 2 Shackley 2004a, 2009
Guerrero Negro LM-12 Valle de Azufre: 2 Shackley 2004a, 2009
Guerrero Negro LM-13 Valle de Azufre: 1 Shackley 2004a, 2009
Guerrero Negro LM-15 Valle de Azufre: 1 Shackley 2004a, 2009
Guerrero Negro LM-18 Valle de Azufre: 3; Puerto El Parral: 1 Shackley 2004a, 2009
Guerrero Negro LGN-1 Valle de Azufre: 3 Shackley 1999:311, 2002:209
Guerrero Negro LGN-3 Valle de Azufre: 1; unknown: 1 Shackley 2002:209
Guerrero Negro LGN-4 Valle de Azufre: 1 Shackley 1999:311
Guerrero Negro LGN-14 Valle de Azufre: 1 Shackley 1999:311
Guerrero Negro LGN-18 Valle de Azufre: 2 Shackley 2002:209
Guerrero Negro LGN-19 Valle de Azufre: 1 Shackley 1999:311
Guerrero Negro LGN-20 Valle de Azufre: 1 Shackley 1999:311
Guerrero Negro LGN-22 Valle de Azufre: 1 Shackley 1999:311
Guerrero Negro LGN-26 Valle de Azufre: 1 Shackley 1999:311
Guerrero Negro LGN-28 Valle de Azufre: 1 Shackley 1999:311
Guerrero Negro LGN-31 Valle de Azufre: 1 Shackley 2002:209
Guerrero Negro Laguna Ojo de Liebre Valle de Azufre: 5 Ritter and Payen 1992:263
Guerrero Negro -- Valle de Azufre: 4 Shackley 1999:311
San Ignacio Valle de Azufre quarry Valle de Azufre: 1 Hyland 1997:450-451
San Ignacio Vizcaíno sites Valle de Azufre: 33
Unknown A: 1
Hyland 1997:450-451
San Ignacio Cueva Pintada Valle de Azufre: 11 Hyland 1997:451
San Ignacio Cuesta Blanca Valle de Azufre: 2 Hyland 1997:451
San Ignacio Cueva Soledad Valle de Azufre: 4 Hyland 1997:451
San Ignacio Los Corralitos Valle de Azufre: 80
Unknown A: 1
Hyland 1997:451-454
San Ignacio Costa sites Valle de Azufre: 85 Hyland 1997:454-456
San Ignacio Bahía Asunción Valle de Azufre: 10 Hyland 1997:456-457
San Ignacio Rancho El Batequi Valle de Azufre: 1 Gutiérrez and Hyland 1994a; Hyland and Gutiérrez 1995
San Ignacio miscellaneous Valle de Azufre: 24 Hyland 1997:457
Bahía Concepción -- Valle de Azufre: 20
Punta Mangles: 2
Unknown A: 1
Shackley et al. 1996:727
San Javier -- Valle de Azufre: 1 Carmean 1994b:72

 

Obsidian hydration

VICINITY SITE SOURCE HYDRATION (microns) REFERENCES
El Rosario Las Pintas -- 4.7 Meighan 1978:10
San Fernando Velicatá -- 3.0 Meighan 1978:10
San Borja Agua de Higuera Unknown A 3.8, 4.0, 4.0, 4.0, 5.5, 6.0, 6.1, 7.9 --
San Borja Agua de Higuera -- 3.9, 4.0, (4.0 + 5.6), (4.1 + 5.1 + 8.7), (4.1 + 6.0), 4.2, 4.2, (4.3 + 5.6), 4.6, 4.7, 4.9, (4.9 + 7.2), 5.0, 5.0, 5.3, 6.2, 7.3 --
San Borja Valle San Julian Isla Angel de la Guarda 3.5 --
San Borja Valle San Julian -- 3.0, 3.5 --
San Borja Montevideo Isla Angel de la Guarda 1.1 Ritter 1997
San Borja UCBC-53 Isla Angel de la Guarda 4.2, 5.9, 8.9 Ritter 1995b, etc.
San Borja UCBC-53 Unknown A 4.6, 6.2 Ritter 1995b, etc.
San Borja UCBC-53 Valle Azufre 3.5, 4.0 --
San Borja UCBC-53 -- 3.0, (4.1 + 5.0), 6.6 --
San Borja UCBC-61 Isla Angel de la Guarda 3.8, 3.9 Carpenter 2009
San Borja Camino San Borja Unknown A 5.0 --
Bahía de los Angeles Aguaje de San Juan Isla Angel de la Guarda 5.3 Ritter 1994b
Bahía de los Angeles Aguaje de San Juan Unknown A 2.4, 3.8, 5.4, 5.8, 6.0, 7.2, 8.8 Ritter 1995b, 1997
Bahía de los Angeles Las Tinajas Unknown A 7.7 Ritter 1995b
Bahía de los Angeles Ensenada El Pescador Ensenada El Pescador 13.3 Ritter 1995b
Bahía de los Angeles UCBC-7 Isla Angel de la Guarda 1.6 Ritter 1994b
Bahía de los Angeles UCBC-13 Isla Angel de la Guarda 2.3, 4.6 Ritter 1994b, 1997
Bahía de los Angeles UCBC-16 Unknown C 1.5 Ritter 1994b
Bahía de los Angeles UCBC-18 Isla Angel de la Guarda 2.7, 2.8 Ritter 1994b
Bahía de los Angeles UCBC-19 Isla Angel de la Guarda 2.7, 3.5, 3.6, 5.7 Ritter 1994b
Bahía de los Angeles UCBC-19 Unknown D 2.0 Ritter 1994b
Bahía de los Angeles UCBC-30 Isla Angel de la Guarda 1.5, 3.9, 4.1, 4.2 Ritter 1995b, 1997
Bahía de los Angeles UCBC-45 Isla Angel de la Guarda 4.0, 5.0 Ritter 1995b
Bahía de los Angeles UCBC-46 Isla Angel de la Guarda 4.2, 5.6 Ritter 1995b
Bahía de los Angeles UCBC-46 Unknown A (2.6 + 3.3) Ritter 1995b
Bahía de los Angeles UCBC-47 Isla Angel de la Guarda 3.7, 4.4, 5.5 Ritter 1995b
Isla Angel de la Guarda Arroyo los Mochos Isla Angel de la Guarda 6.0 Ritter 1994b
Guerrero Negro LM-1 Valle de Azufre 3.0 King 1999:314
Guerrero Negro LM-1 Valle de Azufre? 2.6, 3.1 King 1999:314
Guerrero Negro LM-2 Valle de Azufre 2.4, 3.4, 4.1, 5.3, 6.0 Carpenter 2002:214; King 1999:315
Guerrero Negro LM-2 Valle de Azufre? (1.4 + 2.8), 2.5, 3.1 King 1999:314-315
Guerrero Negro LM-2 unknown 3.1 Carpenter 2002:214
Guerrero Negro LM-4 Valle de Azufre 2.1, (2.2 + 2.7), 2.9 Carpenter 2002:214
Guerrero Negro LM-5 Valle de Azufre 2.7, 2.8, 4.1 Carpenter 2002:214
Guerrero Negro LM-5 unknown 4.0 Carpenter 2002:214
Guerrero Negro LM-6 Valle de Azufre 1.9, 2.7, 3.2, (5.4 + 6.0) Carpenter 2002:214
Guerrero Negro LM-6 unknown 2.1 Carpenter 2002:214
Guerrero Negro LM-7 Valle de Azufre 2.5 Carpenter 2002:214
Guerrero Negro LM-8 Valle de Azufre 2.9 Carpenter 2009
Guerrero Negro LM-8 Unknown 3.4 Carpenter 2009
Guerrero Negro LM-9 Valle de Azufre 3.9 Carpenter 2009
Guerrero Negro LM-9 Isla Angel de la Guarda 3.9 Carpenter 2009
Guerrero Negro LM-10 Valle de Azufre 3.5, 3.9 Carpenter 2009
Guerrero Negro LM-11 Valle de Azufre 3.2, 3.3 Carpenter 2009
Guerrero Negro LM-12 Valle de Azufre (2.6 + 3.7 + 4.9), (3.5 + 5.4) Carpenter 2009
Guerrero Negro LM-13 Valle de Azufre 2.8 Carpenter 2009
Guerrero Negro LM-15 Valle de Azufre 4.0 Carpenter 2009
Guerrero Negro LM-18 Valle de Azufre 3.1, 4.0 Carpenter 2009
Guerrero Negro LM-18 Arroyo Matomí 4.0 Carpenter 2009
Guerrero Negro LGN-1 Valle de Azufre 1.2, 1.8, 2.2, 2.5, 2.7, 2.8, 4.2 Carpenter 2002:214; King 1999:315; Ritter 1999:213
Guerrero Negro LGN-1 Valle de Azufre? 0.0, 2.0, 2.5, 2.6, 2.7, 2.7, 3.6 King 1999:314
Guerrero Negro LGN-2 Valle de Azufre 2.6 Ritter 1999:213
Guerrero Negro LGN-3 Valle de Azufre 1.1, 2.6 Carpenter 2002:214; Ritter 1999:213
Guerrero Negro LGN-3 Valle de Azufre? 2.3, 2.6 King 1999:314
Guerrero Negro LGN-3 unknown 3.8 Carpenter 2002:214
Guerrero Negro LGN-4 Valle de Azufre 2.7, 2.7 King 1999:315; Ritter 1999:213
Guerrero Negro LGN-4 Valle de Azufre? 2.7, 2.7 King 1999:213
Guerrero Negro LGN-9 Valle de Azufre? 2.1 King 1999:314
Guerrero Negro LGN-10 Valle de Azufre? 2.7 King 1999:314
Guerrero Negro LGN-13 Valle de Azufre 2.5 Ritter 1999:213
Guerrero Negro LGN-14 Valle de Azufre 4.0 King 1999:314
Guerrero Negro LGN-17 Valle de Azufre? 2.6 King 1999:314
Guerrero Negro LGN-18 Valle de Azufre 1.8, 2.4 Carpenter 2002:214
Guerrero Negro LGN-18 Valle de Azufre? (2.6 + 4.2) King 1999:314
Guerrero Negro LGN-19 Valle de Azufre 2.8 King 1999:315
Guerrero Negro LGN-20 Valle de Azufre 2.5 King 1999:315
Guerrero Negro LGN-20 Valle de Azufre? 1.6, 2.1 King 1999:314-315
Guerrero Negro LGN-22 Valle de Azufre 3.1 King 1999:315
Guerrero Negro LGN-22 Valle de Azufre? 0.0, 2.2 King 1999:314
Guerrero Negro LGN-24 Valle de Azufre? 2.6 King 1999:314
Guerrero Negro LGN-26 Valle de Azufre 2.9 King 1999:315
Guerrero Negro LGN-26 Valle de Azufre? 1.7, (1.7 + 2.7) King 1999:314
Guerrero Negro LGN-29 Valle de Azufre? 1.9, 2.4 King 1999:314
Guerrero Negro LGN-30 Valle de Azufre? 1.5 King 1999:314
Guerrero Negro -- Valle de Azufre 2.6, 2.9, 3.4, (3.7 + 4.8) King 1999:314-315
Guerrero Negro -- Valle de Azufre? 0.0, 1.4, 2.9 King 1999:314-315
San Ignacio Costa sites Valle de Azufre? (2.0 + 3.0), 3.6 Gutiérrez and Hyland 2002:324; Hyland 1997:272
San Ignacio Los Corralitos Valle de Azufre? 2.1, 2.2, 2.8, 4.0 Gutiérrez and Hyland 2002:324; Hyland 1997:272
San Ignacio Cuesta Blanca 27 Valle de Azufre? 0.0, 3.2 Gutiérrez and Hyland 2002:324; Hyland 1997:272
San Ignacio Misc. sites Valle de Azufre? 3.1, 4.1 Gutiérrez and Hyland 2002:324; Hyland 1997:272
San Ignacio Valle de Azufre quarry Valle de Azufre? 3.8, 3.8, 3.9, (4.0 + 4.8), 4.2, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, (4.9 + 6.7), 5.2, (5.4 + 6.4), 5.7, 6.0, 6.1, 6.3, 6.4, 6.5, 6.5, (6.7 + 8.2), 6.9, (7.0 + 7.5), 7.2, 7.5, 7.6, (7.6 + 8.9), 7.7, 8.7, 9.1, 12.3 Gutiérrez and Hyland 2002:325; Hyland 1997:273
San Ignacio Los Pozos Valle de Azufre? 2.5, 2.6, 2.9, 3.9 Meighan 1978:10
San Ignacio Tinaja de Refugio Valle de Azufre? 2.1, 2.4, 2.6, 3.0, 3.1, 3.3, 3.4, 4.0 Meighan 1978:10
La Purísima Rincon Grande -- 2.8 Meighan 1978:10
Bahía Concepción BS-D11 Valle de Azufre? 0.0 Ritter 1979a:121
Bahía Concepción BS-D15 Valle de Azufre? 1.4 Ritter 1979a:121
Bahía Concepción BS-D37 Valle de Azufre? 5.3 Ritter 1979a:121
Bahía Concepción BS-D49 Valle de Azufre? 1.5 Ritter 1979a:121
Bahía Concepción BS-D50 Valle de Azufre? 2.2, 2.3, 3.8 Ritter 1979a:121
Bahía Concepción BS-D54 Valle de Azufre? 2.6,3.8, 4.3, 5.8 Ritter 1979a:121
Bahía Concepción BS-D58 Valle de Azufre? 2.9, 4.1 Ritter 1979a:121
Bahía Concepción BS-D59 Valle de Azufre? 1.6, 1.7, 1.8, 2.3, 2.4, 3.0, 6.1 Ritter 1979a:121
Bahía Concepción BS-D60 Valle de Azufre? 0.0, 0.1, 1.1, 1.6, 2.7, 2.8, 2.9, 3.1, 7.7 Ritter 1979a:121
Bahía Concepción BS-D61 Valle de Azufre? 1.6, 3.0, 3.2 Ritter 1979a:121
Bahía Concepción BS-D68 Valle de Azufre? 3.4 Ritter 1979a:121
Bahía Concepción BS-D81 Valle de Azufre? 1.5, 2.9, 3.8 Ritter 1979a:121
Bahía Concepción BS-D89 Valle de Azufre? 1.3, 2.9, 4.0 Ritter 1979a:121
Bahía Concepción BS-D95 Valle de Azufre? 1.1, 1.5, 1.9, 2.8, 3.0, 3.8 Ritter 1979a:121
Bahía Concepción BS-D100 Valle de Azufre? 1.4, 1.9, 10.1 Ritter 1979a:121
Bahía Concepción BS-D106 Valle de Azufre? 2.6 Ritter 1979a:121
Bahía Concepción BS-D125 Valle de Azufre? 1.1, 2.6, 3.9, (7.7) Ritter 1979a:121
Bahía Concepción BS-D126 Valle de Azufre? 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1.0, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.7, 1.8, 1.9, 2.0, 2.6, 2.7, 2.8, 2.9, 3.0, 3.5, 3.6, 3.8, (6.9), 10.1 Ritter 1979a:121
Bahía Concepción BS-D128 Valle de Azufre? 0.4 Ritter 1979a:121
Bahía Concepción BS-D134 Valle de Azufre? 1.0, 2.6 Ritter 1979a:121
Bahía Concepción BS-D140 Valle de Azufre? 0.8, 1.6 Ritter 1979a:121
Bahía Concepción BS-D152 Valle de Azufre? 2.2, 2.4, 2.7, 5.8 Ritter 1979a:121
Bahía Concepción Transect I Valle de Azufre? 3.8 Ritter 1979a:121

(Notes: "?" after a source indicates an unconfirmed but probable source, based on the site's location or other sourced specimens from the vicinity. Hydration readings in parentheses indicate multiple-band specimens. The Ritter 1979a data are based on his Table 13; there are some discrepancies with his text.)

TYPE VICINITY HYDRATION (microns) REFERENCES
Comondú Triangular Bahía Concepción 7 readings from 0.0 to 1.8; 2.8 (apparently reworked) Ritter 1979a:180
Comondú Serrated San Ignacio 2.9, 3.9, 4.0 Meighan 1978:10, 16-17
Comondú Serrated San Ignacio (2.0 + 3.0), 3.6 Gutiérrez and Hyland 2002:324; Hyland 1997:272
Comondú Serrated Bahía Concepción 3 readings from 0.8 to 2.1 Ritter 1979a:180
Comondú Series Guerrero Negro 0.0, 2.3, 2.6 King 1999:314-315
Guerrero Negro Series Guerrero Negro 1.1, 1.9, 2.0, 2.1, 2.1, 2.5, 2.5, 2.6, 2.6, 2.6, 2.7, 2.7, 3.0, 3.1, 4.0 Carpenter 2002:214; King 1999:314-315; Ritter 1999:213
Humboldt Concave Base San Ignacio 2.5 Meighan 1978:10, 17
Guajademí Split Stem Guerrero Negro 2.9 King 1999:315
Guajademí Split Stem Bahía Concepción 1.8 Ritter 1979a:181
Elko Guerrero Negro 3.4 King 1999:314
Elko San Ignacio 4.0 Gutiérrez and Hyland 2002:324; Hyland 1997:272
Elko Corner Notch-like Bahía Concepción 2.5 Ritter 1979a:189
La Paz-Gypsum Cave San Ignacio 2.6 Meighan 1978:10, 17
La Paz-Gypsum Cave Bahía Concepción 1.1, 2.6, 2.8, 3.5 Ritter 1979a:194
Zacatecas Broad Blade Bahía Concepción 1.9 (reworked) Ritter 1979a:198-201
Pinto Series Bahía Concepción 5.8 Ritter 1979a:201
Lanceolate San Ignacio 2.1, 2.2 Gutiérrez and Hyland 2002:324; Hyland 1997:272

(Notes: Readings in parentheses indicate multiple-band specimens. Hydration measurements on older surfaces of reworked projectile points may give misleadingly old ages for newer point types. Damaged or resharpened surfaces on older point forms may give misleadingly young ages.)

("Y" = calendar years before the time of measurement; "H" = hydration reading, in microns)

Rate: Y = 280 H
Application: Baja California
Basis: "Obsidian from the West Coast of Mexico has a widespread rate of 280 years per micron, and at least some Southern California obsidians also appear close to that rate."
Editor's Comment: This formula may give ages that are substantially too late for early specimens.
Reference: Meighan 1978:9
Rate: Y = 300 H or Y = 500 H
Application: Bahía Concepción (probably primarily Valle de Azufre obsidian)
Basis: "Principally on the basis of cross-dated artifact types with small hydration bands (i.e. small side-notched and triangular points)...a very rough approximation."
Editor's Comment: This formula may give ages that are too late for early specimens.
Reference: Ritter 1979a:120
Rate: Y = 322 H 1.5
Application: Bahía Concepción (probably primarily Valle de Azufre obsidian)
Basis: "A compromise, purely empirical formula" based on the historic-period dropoff of obsidian use, early Holocene dating of the largest hydration measurements, and readings on chronologically diagnostic point types.
Editor's Comment: In the original, the formula is incorrectly written as Y = 322 H2/3.
Reference: Laylander 1987:435-436

(Hydration rates are likely to differ for obsidian coming from different geological sources, for specimens recovered from archaeological sites with different annual temperature regimes, and for specimens recovered from surface or subsurface contexts.)