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Hundreds of Obsidian artefacts revealed where the Aztecs purchased the volcanic glass, which they used for tools, ornamental works or religious objects centuries ago – and their huge retail chains were their competitors.
A new study of 788 works is the biggest example of Obsidian artefacts ever analyzed by tenochtitlán, the capital of Aztec, also known as the Mexican Nation, according to the authors who reported their conclusions on the National Academy of Sciences on Monday.
Using a portable x -ray fluorescence, an inadequate way to determine geochemical fingerprints, researchers confirmed that Mexico is partially partial green and gold obsidian to rituals.
However, the community also relied on everyday objects made of various types of obsidian, such as cutting and scraping blades, so they had to create a complex economic system that promotes long -distance trade with competitors’ societies for their political borders, researchers said.
“Although Mexico preferred the Green Obsidian, a large variety of obsidian types, mainly as a non-ritual artefacts, indicates that obsidian tools from several sources have reached the Empire capital through the market,” the lead author Diego Matadam-Gomora said. “After studying where this material came from, we can investigate the movement of goods through meso -American.”
The research team was surprised by the variety of Obsidian types found in the ancient capital, which surpassed other places of meso -American. This discovery also demonstrates how the Aztec Society has evolved – presenting a more standardized religion and control against the empire in 1521, showing how Obsidian has changed over time.
The ceremonial scepter demonstrates the qualified mastery mastery that was experienced when working with Obsidian. – Michel Zabé/the mayor of the proyecto Templo, Inah
The most valuable obsidian
The Aztecs did not find obsidian. It was already the most common raw material in Meso -American, when they were 1200 m. He arrived in the Mexican basin, and the use of obsidian with wide dates to an archaic period of 6,000 to 2000. Pr. BC. Meso-American societies said Matadam-Gomora.
Obsidian came from a geological formation called trans-mexicon volcano belt, covering 621 miles (1000 kilometers) from the west to the eastern coast in central Mexico, the study authors noted.
According to the authors of the study, artisans with experience working with obsidian could form volcanic glass into incredibly sharp instruments. The natural reflection and gloss of the material also allowed Mexican people to turn obsidian into highly polished jewelry and religious objects.
Some of the analyzed Obsidian artefacts are characterized by Signature Green Hue, which is rated by Mexico. – Mirsa Islas/courtesy mayor of Proyecto Templo, Inah
The study examined the artifacts were revealed during excavations, which took place within decades of the main Temple of Tenochtitlán Aztec, called Templo, now Mexico. Almost 90% of these obsidian artefacts came from the Sierra de Pachuca Mountain Chain, and the study found.
Centuries ago, Mexico buried the victims of miniature weapons and jewelry in this holy heart of the city. They considered Green Obsidian the most valuable of all types of obsidian because of its shade and called it “masters Obsidianu,” said Matadam-Gomora.
Green obsidian is believed to have a symbolic connection to Tollan, a mythical city where God Quetzalcoatl lived, which is believed to be the origin of ancestral Mexican civilizations.
“Most obsidians are naturally gray or black,” In the letter, Matadam-Gomora stated. “The green obsidian of Sierra de Pachuca is unique and associated with this specific geological source. Azteks have recognized and evaluated. In addition, the geological formation processes Sierra de Pachuca allowed the creation of a high quality obsidian in this source, making it ideal for a complex ornament.”
Portable for x -ray scanning, including Obsidian inserts on statues, the team allowed the team to analyze the volcanic glass. – Leonardo lópez luján/courtesy “Proyecto Templo” Mayor, Inah
The study emphasizes the importance of non -destructive X -ray fluorescence spectrometry, said John Millhauser, an associate professor at the Sociology and Anthropology, North Carolina State University. Millhauser did not participate in a new study.
“Without it, we would not be able to explore these artifact stories in detail,” Millhauser said. “Although this technique has been widely used for about two decades, each new program adds an essential piece to an ancient Mexican economy puzzle.”
A changing empire
Other 10% of the artefacts were made using Obsidian from seven other places, including the Oimba, tulancing, Ucareo and El Parauíso. Although Oimba and Sierra de Pachuca were controlled by the Aztec Empire, places such as Ucareo were outside the political borders of the empire, indicating that Mexico’s Obsidiano tools from its competitors’ regions to local markets, said Matadam-Gomora.
Obsidian can be formed into sharp tools such as the blade. Miniature weapons such as this little knife were buried as donations in Tenochtitlán. – Mirsa Islas/courtesy mayor of Proyecto Templo, Inah
In addition, tools can be found in rural and urban markets. The fact that people living in the heart of the capital relied on the same obsidian as the villagers and farmers of the surrounding village were one of the most prominent findings of the study, said Millhauser, who also leads a graduate program at the North Carolina State University.
“Given that hundreds of thousands of people lived in the region, the extent of the Obsidian supply and distribution network is extraordinary,” he said. “This is a powerful reminder of what a strong and distant central Mexico economy was 500 years ago, and goods such as Obsidian are extensively circulating to meet the needs of communities throughout the region.”
At the beginning of the history of the Aztecs, the Obsidian of rites and daily objects came from limited sources. However, after the Aztec Empire defeated Tapenecs from Azcapotzalco and 1430. Started the development of the empire, increased the types of obsidian, showing how the development of Mexico’s commercial networks, said Matadam-Gomora.
“Later, from (1481 to 1486), Mexico was ruled by a problematic Tlatani (Aztec ruler) Tízoc, who destabilized the dominance of the empire,” he said. In the letter. “During this period, we see that the variety of Obsidian was reduced to only two sources – Sierra de Pachuca and Oteima, which historically were the main sources of Mexico supply. After 1486, when the new ruler came to power, Obsidian diversity increased to seven sources again.” Therefore, our diachronic approach to Obsidian has revealed that these untreated materials are directly related to transformations. “Therefore, our diachronic prospects associated with obsidian.
Next, to better understand the ancient obsidian trade, Matadam-Gomora wants to find out how the obsidian moved through meso-American, including other archaeological sites, and came to Tenochtitlán.
“Archaeologists are still surprisingly little aware of Tenōchtitlan, the capital of Mexico, mainly because it is under the modern development of Mexico city,” Millhauser said in the letter. “Every new study offers new insights into the lives of ancient populations.”
Amendment: The previous version of this story wrongly evaluated when the Aztec Empire fell.
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