Obsidian Vessels and Eye Inlays from Naqada and Abydos in the Collection of the Garstang Museum, Liverpool, UK

Abstract Nine unpublished obsidian artefacts (one cosmetics jar, two vessel fragments, and six eye inlays) from the Garstang Museum collection are presented, with aim of patching gaps in current record concerning their excavation contexts material properties, which were presumably detailed John Garstang’s now-lost report/notes. The objects date to Early Dynastic Old Kingdom periods, five matched those described previous archival research on Abydos excavations. SEM-EDS was conducted characterise compositions make a preliminary assessment obsidian’s provenance. It is suggested that for three vessels (analyses prepared surfaces) may have originated region modern Eritrea Ethiopia, but inlays (non-destructive analyses raw could not be any geological source, highlighting difficulties balancing object preservation analytical quality researching museum collections.