An Obsidian Native American Blades and Tribal Necklace Lot of 12 in good to very good condition. Native American peoples used obsidian for many different purposes, especially for making sharp tools and weapons. For example, Indigenous groups in the Great Basin and Pacific Northwest used obsidian to create arrowheads, spear points, knives, and cutting tools. The volcanic glass could be carefully chipped, or “knapped,” into extremely sharp edges. Obsidian was also traded over long distances; for example, obsidian from sources such as Obsidian Cliff in present-day Oregon was transported to communities far from where it was originally collected. In addition to tools and weapons, obsidian and other stones were sometimes shaped into beads and pendants used in necklaces and other forms of personal adornment. These necklaces could have decorative, social, or ceremonial importance depending on the community. Together, obsidian blades and necklaces show the technological skills, artistic traditions, and extensive trade networks of Indigenous peoples in North America.