Volcanic Glass Engraved Clovis Preform/Handaxe Story Stone Effigy

Описание: XRF Testing of “Andara” Volcanic Glass Paleolithic Effigy Artifacts

As I have been sharing information on volcanic glass, it may be of interest to present the original XRF (X-ray Fluorescence) test results from February 2022. This initial round of testing was conducted by geologist Rick Shaw and his professor at the Geology Laboratory of Stephen F. Austin State University in Texas.

Three samples of volcanic glass were tested: one yellow, one blue, and one green. A fourth sample, an uncleaned version of one of the original three, was also analyzed. All three cleaned samples were Paleolithic Story Stone Effigy Artifacts. The XRF printout reveals both elemental composition and relative abundance. “LOD” (Limit of Detection) is noted where elements are present only in trace or negligible amounts. This spreadsheet analysis confirms that the tested glass is naturally occurring and not man-made “slag” glass, as had previously been assumed by many.

At a later date, Dr. Michael Gramly independently tested “Andara” volcanic glass artifact samples in his own laboratory. His results also confirmed that the glass used to produce Paleolithic effigy artifacts is naturally occurring and not man-made slag glass.

The XRF results further demonstrate that this volcanic glass differs significantly from both obsidian and tektites, which are oxygen-rich materials typically containing 60–80% silicon dioxide (SiO₂). In contrast, the “Andara” volcanic glass used in Paleolithic artifacts contains no oxygen. Man-made glass also differs markedly, as it includes oxygen-rich compounds such as silicon dioxide (SiO₂) and calcium oxide (CaO), and commonly contains sodium (Na), which is absent in this volcanic glass.

Volcanic glass of this type is consistently found in regions of volcanic activity and is currently being mined from ancient lava flows in China.

You can scroll through the full XRF test results using the arrow in the bottom-right corner of the spreadsheet.

Access the data here:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...

A Note on Artifact Authenticity and Its Relationship to XRF Testing

It is important to note that the “Andara” volcanic glass samples tested via XRF were not man-made glass simply labeled as “Andara.” The glass tested was naturally occurring material used in the production of Paleolithic Story Stone Effigy Artifacts. These artifacts exhibit shaped perimeters created through percussion and pressure flaking, as well as patterned etching depicting mammoths and facial hair. Context matters.

When Dr. Gramly conducted his XRF analysis, he confirmed the glass was naturally occurring precisely because the samples tested were genuine flaked and etched Paleolithic artifacts, not modern man-made slag glass labeled as “Andara.”

Unfortunately, the term “Andara glass” is often applied to colorful man-made glass with no archaeological context. These modern examples test high in silicon dioxide and show significant oxygen content, both hallmarks of man-made glass. In contrast, true Paleolithic artifacts made from naturally occurring “Andara” volcanic glass contain no oxygen or sodium, which are key differentiators.

For a deeper discussion of this discovery and its significance, please read the article Paleo Story Stones Described here:
https://antiquitiesoftheamericas.com/...

To view photos of volcanic glass Paleolithic Story Stone artifacts, visit:
https://antiquitiesoftheamericas.com/