New geochemical sourcing of volcanic glass artifacts found in Louisiana has confirmed the existence of the 'Obsidian and Turquoise Seaway.' This 3,000-year-old maritime trade route linked the Pre-Columbian cultures of the Caribbean Antilles directly to the Mississippi Delta, long before the arrival of Europeans.
The study, published this week, utilized trace-element analysis to match obsidian tools found at mound sites to specific volcanic vents in the Caribbean. This discovery suggests that ancient indigenous mariners possessed sophisticated navigational knowledge to traverse hundreds of miles of open water for luxury goods.