Obsidian geochemistry and lithic debitage analysis in the southern Central Andes: Insights from the Late Pleistocene–Early Holocene assemblage at Pampa Lechuza, coastal desert of Peru

This study examines a lithic assemblage of 682 obsidian artifacts from Pampa Lechuza, a Late Pleistocene–Early Holocene site located in the coastal desert of south-central Peru. Geochemical and technological methods are used to determine where the obsidian came from and whether the artifacts are the result of early core reduction or later tool production. Portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF) analysis shows that over 99% of obsidian artifacts come from the Quispisisa source and less than 1% from a yet unidentified source or sub-source. The technological analysis reveals that most of the artifacts are byproducts of advanced reduction stages. These findings enhance our comprehension of Late Pleistocene-Early Holocene mobility patterns and resource procurement strategies in south-central Peru, highlighting Pampa Lechuza's role in early regional obsidian distribution networks.