About the International Obsidian Conference (IOC)

IOC Scientific Committee (updated in 2023)

• Katalin T. Biró — Hungarian National Museum, Budapest, Hungary

• Michael D. Glascock — University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA

• Yaroslav V. Kuzmin — Institute of Geology & Mineralogy, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia

• François-Xavier Le Bourdonnec — University Bordeaux Montaigne, Pessac, France

• András Markó — Hungarian National Museum, Budapest, Hungary

• Akira Ono — Professor Emeritus of Tokyo Metropolitan University, Tokyo, Japan

• Robin Torrence — Australian Museum, Sydney, Australia

• Robert Tykot — University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA

• Andrea Vianello — University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA

• Kyle P. Freund — Far Western Anthropological Research Group, INC, CA, USA

• Theodora Moutsiou — University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus

• Yoshimitsu Suda — Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan 

History

• The First: June 1st to 3rd, IOC Lipari 2016, Italy

• The Second: May 27th to 29th, IOC Budapest and Sárospatak 2019, Hungary

• The Third: April 30th to May 2nd, IOC Berkeley 2021, USA

• The Fourth: July 1st to 5th, IOC Engaru 2023, Japan

• The Fifth (upcoming): IOC Yerevan 2026, Armenia

Scope

• The International Obsidian Conference (IOC) serves as a premier international forum, convening archaeologists, geologists, and analytical chemists to showcase and advance obsidian studies. Orchestrated by a dedicated 12-member scientific committee, the IOC operates without a fixed secretariat or designated representative, embodying an interdisciplinary nexus for researchers engaged in obsidian exploration.

• Scheduled at intervals of approximately three years, typically from May to July, the conference spans two to three days, featuring insightful lectures and a one-day field trip to the obsidian source. This structured program not only contributes significantly to but also spearheads transdisciplinary obsidian studies on a global scale. The IOC stands as a vital catalyst for advancing collaborative research and understanding in the realm of obsidian studies worldwide.