Hostname: page-component-788cddb947-nxk7g Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-10-18T20:40:39.189Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The Investigation of Obsidian Craft Production at Xochicalco, Morelos

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 November 2010

Kenneth G. Hirth
Kenneth G. Hirth
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology, 409 Carpenter Hall, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Surface reconnaissance at the site of Xochicalco, Morelos, identified 12 areas believed to be production locales where obsidian tools were manufactured during the Epiclassic period (A.D. 700-900). Production locales were identified from concentrations of chipped stone debitage located in both residential and nonresidential contexts at Xochicalco. Differences in the size and location of these production locales suggested obsidian craft activity was carried out in three different production contexts similar to those reported at the large urban center of Teotihuacan: small domestic workshops, large nonresidential workshops, and civic-ceremonial precinct workshops. Stratigraphic excavations were initiated to test whether the inferences about the context of production based on surface concentrations of obsidian debitage would be confirmed by subsurface testing. The results show that in most cases surface concentrations of obsidian debitage accurately reflect the presence of in situ craft activity.

Resumen

Un recorrido del sitio de Xochicalco, Morelos, ha localizado la presencia de 12 áreas identificadas como talleres de obsidiana dond e se fabricaron utensilios de obsidiana durante el epiclásico (700-900 d.C). Estas áreas fueron identificadas por medio de las concentraciones de desperdicio de talla localizadas en áreas residenciales tanto como en áreas no-residenciales. La variatión en el tamaño y la ubicación de estas 12 áreas de productión sugieren que los utensilios de obsidiana fueron producidos en trés contextos distintos: talleres de obsidiana en contextos domésticos, talleres grandes en áreas no-residenciales y talleres en áreas civico-ceremoniales. Estos tres tipos de talleres de obsidiana son los mismos que han sido identificados en Teotihuacan.

En 1992 las 12 áreas fueron exploradas usando pozos de sondeo para ver si existía una corelación entre los depósitos superficiaies y los razgos estratigraficos. Estas exploraciones confirmaron que de las 12 áreas, siete definativamente fueron talleres, tres no fueron talleres y dos no tenían suficiente evidencia para determinar si funcionaban o no como un área de actividad. Como resultado, esta investigatión ha demonstrado que en la mayoría de los casos en Xochicalco la presencia de desperdicios de obsidiana en la superficie es buen indicio de los materiales, los con-textos y los actividades prehispánicos que se encuentran debajo de la superficie.

Type
Articles
Information
Ancient Mesoamerica , Volume 6 , Spring 1995 , pp. 251 - 258
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1995

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Adams, Richard E.W. 1966 The Evolution of Urban Society. Aldine, Chicago.Google Scholar
Barbour, Warren T.D. 1976 The Figurines and Figurine Chronology of Ancient Teotihua-can, Mexico. Ph.D. dissertation, Department of Anthropology, University of Rochester, Rochester, MN.Google Scholar
Blanton, Richard E., Kowalewski, Stephen A., Feinman, Gary M., and Appel, Jill 1981 Ancient Mesoamerica. Cambridge University Press, New York.Google Scholar
Brumfiel, Elizabeth M. 1986 The Division of Labor at Xico: The Chipped Stone Industry. In Economic Aspects of Prehispanic Highland Mexico, edited by Isaac, Barry L., pp. 245–279. Research in Economic Anthropology, Supplement No. 2. JAI Press, Greenwich, CT.Google Scholar
Burton, Susan S. 1987 Obsidian Blade Manufacturing Debris on Terrace 37. In Ancient Chalcatzingo, edited by Grove, David C., pp. 321–328. University of Texas Press, Austin.Google Scholar
Carrasco, Pedro 1978 La economica del Mexico prehispanico. In Economiapolitica e Ideologia en el Mexico prehispanico, edited by Carrasco, Pedro and Broda, Johanna, pp. 13–74. Editorial Nueva Imagen, Mexico.Google Scholar
Charlton, Thomas H., and Spence, Michael W. 1983 Obsidian Exploitation and Civilization in the Basin of Mexico. In Mining and Mining Techniques in Ancient Mesoamerica, edited by Weigand, Phil C. and Gwynne, G., pp. 7–86. Anthropology No. 6. Special Edition. State University of New York, Stony Brook.Google Scholar
Clark, John E. 1986 From Mountains to Molehills: A Critical Review of Teotihua-can's Obsidian Industry. In Economic Aspects of Prehispanic Highland Mexico, edited by Isaac, Barry L., pp. 23–74. Research in Economic Anthropology, Supplement No. 2. JAI Press, Greenwich, CT.Google Scholar
Clark, John E. 1988 The Lithic Artifacts of La Libertad, Chiapas, Mexico. Papers No. 52. New World Archaeological Foundation, Brigham Young University, Provo.Google Scholar
Clark, John E. 1989 Hacia una definition de talleres. In La obsidiana en Mesoamerica, edited by Margarita, Gaxiola G. and Clark, John E., pp. 213–217. Coleccion Cientifica No. 176. Instituto Nacional de Antropologfa e Historia, Mexico.Google Scholar
Clark, John E. 1990 Fifteen Fallacies in Lithic Workshop Interpretation: An Experimental and Ethnoarchaeological Perspective. In Etnoarqueologia: Primer Coloquio Bosch-Gimpera, edited by Yoko Sugiura and Mari Carmen Serra Puche, pp. 497–512. Universidad Nacional Auto-noma de Mexico, Mexico.Google Scholar
Diehl, Richard A. 1981 Tula In Archaeology, edited by Sabloff, Jeremy A., pp. 277–295. Supplement to the Handbook of Middle American Indians, vol. 1. University of Texas Press, Austin.Google Scholar
Clark, John E. 1983 Tula Thames and Hudson, London. Fladmark, K.R.Google Scholar
Clark, John E. 1982 Microdebitage Analysis: Initial Considerations. Journal of Archaeological Science 9:205–220.Google Scholar
Margarita, Gaxiola G., and Guevara, Jorge 1989 Un conjunto habitacional en Huapalcalco, Hgo., epecializado en la talla de obsidiana. In La obsidiana en Mesoamérica, edited by Margarita Gaxiola, G. and Clark, John E., pp. 227–242. Colec-cion Cientifica No. 176. Instituto Nacional de Antropologia e Historia, Mexico.Google Scholar
Healan, Dan 1986 Technological and Nontechnological Aspects of an Obsidian Workshop Excavated at Tula, Hidalgo. In Economic Aspects of Prehispanic Highland Mexico, edited by Isaac, Barry L., pp. 133–152. Research in Economic Anthropology, Supplement No. 2. JAI Press, Greenwich, CT.Google Scholar
Healan, Dan, Kerley, Janet, and Bey, George 1983 Excavation and Preliminary Analysis of an Obsidian Workshop at Tula, Hidalgo, Mexico. Journal of Field Archaeology 10:127–145.Google Scholar
Hicks, Frederic 1976 Mayeque y calpuleque en el sistema de clases del Mexico anti-guo. In Estratificacion social en la Mesoamerica prehispdnica, edited by Carrasco, Pedro, pp. 61–11. Instituto Nacional de Antro-pologia e Historia, Mexico.Google Scholar
Hirth, Kenneth G. 1984 Xochicalco: Urban Growth and State Formation in Central Mexico. Science 225:579–586.Google Scholar
Hirth, Kenneth G. 1991 Roads, Thoroughfares and Avenues of Power at Xochicalco, Mexico. In Ancient Road Networks and Settlement Hierarchies in the New World, edited by Trombold, Charles D., pp. 211–221. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.Google Scholar
Hirth, Kenneth G. 1995 Ancient Urbanism at Xochicalco. Manuscript on file, Department of Anthropology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania.Google Scholar
Hirth, Kenneth G., and Guillen, Ann Cyphers 1988 Tiempo y Asentamiento en Xochicalco. Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Mexico.Google Scholar
Hull, Kathleen L. 1987 Identification of Cultural Site Formation Processes Through Microdebitage Analysis. American Antiquity 52:772–783.Google Scholar
Jacobs, Jane 1969 The Economy of Cities. Random House, New York.Google Scholar
Kowalewski, Stephen A., Feinman, Gary M., Finsten, Linda, Blanton, Richard E., and Nicholas, Linda M. 1989 Monte Albdn's Hinterland, Part II. Prehispanic Settlement Patterns in the Tlacolula, Etla, and Ocotlan, the Valley of Oaxaca, Mexico. Memoirs No. 23. Museum of Anthropology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.Google Scholar
Litvak King, Jaime 1970 Xochicalco en la caida del clasico, una hipotesis. Anales de A ntropologia 7:131–144.Google Scholar
Litvak King, Jaime 1978 Central Mexico as Part of the General Mesoamerican Communications System. In Mesoamerican Communication Routes and Cultural Contacts, edited by Lee, Thomas A. and Navarrete, Carlos, pp. 115–122. Papers No. 40. New World Archaeological Foundation, Brigham Young University, Provo.Google Scholar
Millon, Rene 1973 Urbanization at Teotihuacan, Mexico. The Teotihuacan Map, Volume 1, Part 1. University of Texas Press, Austin.Google Scholar
Moholy-Nagy, Hattula 1990 The Misidentification of Mesoamerican Lithic Workshops. Latin American Antiquity 1:268–279.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Nalda, Enrique, and Pastrana, Alejandro 1976 Una propositión para la investigatión de los “talleres de lit-ica” en Tula, Hgo. In Proyecto Tula, segunda parte, edited by Matos, Eduardo, pp. 75–83. Coleccion Cientifica No. 33. Instituto Nacional de Antropologiae Historia, Mexico.Google Scholar
Charlton, Otis, Cynthia, ThomasCharlton, H., and Nichols, Deborah L. 1993 Aztec Household-Based Craft Production: Archaeological Evidence from the City-State of Otumba, Mexico. In Prehispanic Domestic Units in Western Mesoamerica: Studies of the Household, Compound and Residence, edited by Santley, Robert S. and Hirth, Kenneth G., pp. 147–189, CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL.Google Scholar
Rosen, Arlene Miller 1989 Ancient Town and City Sites: A View from the Microscope. American Antiquity 54:564–578.Google Scholar
Sanders, William T. 1956 The Central Mexican Symbiotic Region: A Study in Prehistoric Settlement Patterns. In Prehistoric Settlement Patterns in the New World, edited by Willey, Gordon R., pp. 115–127. Viking Fund Publications in Anthropology, New York.Google Scholar
Sanders, William T., Parsons, Jeffrey R., and Santley, Robert S. 1979 The Basin of Mexico: Ecological Processes in the Evolution of a Civilization. Academic Press, New York.Google Scholar
Sanders, William T., and Price, Barbara J. 1968 Mesoamerica: The Evolution of a Civilization. Random House, New York.Google Scholar
Sanders, William T., and Santley, Robert S. 1983 A Tale of Three Cities: Energetics and Urbanization in Pre-Hispanic Central Mexico. In Prehistoric Settlement Patterns, edited by Vogt, Evan Z. and Leventhal, Richard M., pp. 243–291. University of New Mexico Press and the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, Albuquerque and Cambridge.Google Scholar
Santley, Robert S. 1983 Obsidian Trade and Teotihuacan Influence in Mesoamerica. In Highland-Lowland Interaction in Mesoamerica: Interdisciplinary Approaches, edited by Miller, Arthur, pp. 69–124. Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection, Washington, DC.Google Scholar
Santley, Robert S. 1984 Obsidian Exchange, Economic Stratification, and the Evolution of Complex Society in the Basin of Mexico. In Trade and Exchange in Early Mesoamerica, edited by Hirth, Kenneth G., pp. 43–86. University of New Mexico Press, Albuquerque.Google Scholar
Santley, Robert S., Kerley, Janet M., and Kneebone, Ronald R. 1986 Obsidian Working, Long-Distance Exchange, and the Politico-Economic Organization of Early States in Central Mexico. In Economic Aspects of Prehispanic Highland Mexico, edited by Isaac, Barry L., pp. 101–132. Research in Economic Anthropology, Supplement 2. JAI Press, Greenwich, CT.Google Scholar
Service, Elman R. 1975 Origins of the State and Civilization. W.W. Norton and Company, New York.Google Scholar
Schiffer, Michael B. 1976 Behavioral Archeology. Academic Press, New York.Google Scholar
Sorensen, Jerrel H., Hirth, Kenneth G., and Ferguson, Stephen M. 1989 Contents of Seven Obsidian Workshops in Western Morelos. In La obsidiana en Mesoamerica, edited by Margarita Gaxiola, G. and Clark, John E., pp. 299–329. Coleccion Cientifica No. 176. Instituto Nacional de Antropologia e Historia, Mexico.Google Scholar
Spence, Michael W. 1967 The Obsidian Industry of Teotihuacan. American Antiquity 32:507–514.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Spence, Michael W. 1981 Obsidian Production and the State in Teotihuacan. American Antiquity 46:769–788.Google Scholar
Spence, Michael W. 1987 The Scale and Structure of Obsidia n Production in Teotihua-can. In Teotihuacan: Nuevos datos, nuevas sintesis, nuevos problemas, edited by Tapia, Emily McClung de and Rattray, Evelyn C., pp. 429–450. Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Mexico.Google Scholar
Torrence, Robin 1986 Production and Exchange of Stone Tools. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.Google Scholar
Widmer, Randolph J. 1985 Economic Specialization at Copan, Honduras. Paper presented at the 50th Annual Meeting of the Society for American Archaeology, Denver.Google Scholar