Abstract

Obsidian is a material that has sparked interest among Cuban geologists and archaeologists for decades. Its physical and aesthetic characteristics make it a very attractive and ideal material for making artifacts for everyday and superstructural use, used by many cultures around the world. Although there have been mentions of the presence of obsidian in Cuba since the 19th century, and there have been several reports of artifacts made with said rock, recovered as part of archaeological investigations in national territory, there are no studies on the matter or publications that allude to these findings. Likewise, there are no known geological research projects specifically linked to the search for possible obsidian outcrops, so, beyond inferences and possible solutions to the way in which these materials became part of the archaeological record, archaeologists and geologists They face new challenges to offer a coherent explanation behind the archaeological findings studied. This article offers an overview, from the perspective of archaeology with the support of geology specialists, of all the material collected, the hypotheses used, the possible explanations, and the future challenges for studies on the presence of obsidian in Cuba.

Keywords:
outcrops; volcanic arc; archaeological context; geology; archaeology