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Sources of Imported Obsidian at Postclassic Sites in the Yautepec Valley, Morelos: A Characterization Study Using XRF and INAA

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Michael E. Smith ,
Adrian L. Burke ,
Timothy S. Hare  and
Michael D. Glascock
Michael E. Smith
Affiliation:
School of Human Evolution and Social Change, Box 2402, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287 (mesmith9@asu.edu)
Adrian L. Burke
Affiliation:
Département d'Anthropologie, Université de Montréal, C.P. 6128, Succursale Centre-ville, Montréal, Québec, Canada H3C 3J7 (adrian.burke@umontreal.ca)
Timothy S. Hare
Affiliation:
Institute for Regional Analysis and Public Policy, Morehead State University, 100 Lloyd Cassity Building, Morehead, KY 40351 (t.hare@morehead-st.edu)
Michael D. Glascock
Affiliation:
230 Research Reactor Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211 (glascockm@missouri.edu)
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Abstract

This paper presents the results of obsidian characterization analyses for Middle and Late Postclassic sites in the Yautepec Valley of Morelos, central Mexico. A large sample (N = 390) of obsidian blades from excavated domestic contexts at the site of Yautepec and from surface collected contemporary sites were assigned to a quarry source using X-ray fluorescence (XRF), and a subsample was also analyzed with instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA). The use of XRF allowed the authors to expand the number of artifacts initially analyzed by INAA. These larger samples of sourced material prove essential to answering research questions regarding regional economies, particularly with regard to issues such as production and exchange. This study demonstrates the complementarity of XRF and INAA and the specific advantages inherent in each of these techniques.

Resumen

Resumen

Presentamos un análisis de la caracterización química de las obsidianas procedentes de sitios del Posclásico Medio y Tardío en el valle de Yautepec, México central. Una muestra importante (N=390) de lascas de obsidiana recuperadas en contextos domésticos en el sitio de Yautepec y de otras colecciones de superficie de sitios contemporáneos pudieron ser asignadas a canteras usando la fluorescencia de rayos X (XRF), y en una submuestra la activación neutrónica (INAA). El uso de la técnica de XRF permitió aumentar el número de artefactos inicialmente analizado por INAA. Estas muestras más grandes que incluían materiales de procedencia de origen permitió responder a preguntas sobre la economía regional, en particular las cuestiones en torno a la producción y el intercambio. Los datos que presentamos aquí demuestran las ventajas de la complementariedad en el uso de las técnicas de análisis de XRF y INAA, aprovechando las ventajas específicas de cada una de ellas.

Type
Reports
Information
Latin American Antiquity , Volume 18 , Issue 4 , December 2007 , pp. 429 - 450
Copyright
Copyright © Society for American Archaeology 2007

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