Metallurgy in pre-Columbian Mesoamerica 3217106 222018408 2008-06-27T04:37:18Z CJLL Wright 259138 /* Central Mexico */ link The emergence of '''[[metallurgy]] in [[pre-Columbian]] [[Mesoamerica]]''' occurred relatively late in the region's history, with distinctive works of metal apparent in [[Geography of Mesoamerica#West Mexico|West Mexico]] by roughly CE 800, and perhaps as early as CE 600. <ref>see Hosler 1988, 1995.</ref> Metallurgical techniques likely diffused northward from regions in [[Central America|Central]] or [[South America]] via [[Maritime trade|maritime]] [[Trade in Maya civilization|trade routes]]; recipients of these metallurgical technologies apparently exploited a wide range of material, including [[alloy]]s of [[copper]]-[[silver]], copper-[[arsenic]], copper-[[tin]] and copper-arsenic-tin.<ref>Hosler 1988, Pendergrast 1962.</ref> Metal items crafted throughout Mesoamerica may be broken into three classes: utilitarian objects, objects used for individual ornamentation, and ceremonial/ritual objects.<ref>Pendergast 1962.</ref> The latter two categories comprise the bulk of distinctly Mesoamerican artifacts, with metals playing a particularly important role in the [[sacred]] and [[symbolic]] cultural realms. ==Possible loci of Mesoamerican metallurgy == ===Southern Maya area=== Owing largely to its proximity to southern centers of metallurgy (specifically southern Central America and South America), the Southern [[Maya civilization|Maya]] area appears to have been an early locus of metal working in Mesoamerica. ===West Mexico=== As with the Southern Maya area, the number and diversity of metal artifacts recovered from West Mexico indicates that this region was a regional nucleus of metallurgy,<ref>Pendergast 1962.</ref> from which elements of technique, form and style could have diffused throughout Mesoamerica. ==Developments in West Mexican metallurgy== === Phase 1: CE 600 - 1200/1300 === West Mexican smiths worked primarily in [[copper]] during the initial period, with some low-[[arsenic]] alloys, as well as occasional employment of [[silver]] and [[gold]]. [[Lost-wax casting|Lost-wax cast]] bells were introduced from lower [[Central America]] and [[Colombia]] during this phase, along with several classes of [[Cold working|cold-worked]] ornaments and hand tools, such as needles and tweezers. The prototypes for these small, often utilitarian items appear rooted in southern [[Ecuador]] and northern [[Peru]].<ref>Hosler 1995.</ref> Small copper rings, generally found in burial contexts, are also common to Ecuador and Western Mexico and are abundant during this phase. Excavated assemblages from the initial phase indicate that lost-wax cast bells also occupied a substantial portion of West Mexican artisan's efforts. Unlike similar bells recovered from coastal Ecuador, West Mexican bells were cast, rather than worked, metal. Typically composed of a smooth, suspended metal shell encasing an interior clapper, the West Mexican bells were generally fashioned from copper alloys and bore particular resemblance to bells made in [[Colombia]], [[Panama]] and [[Costa Rica]].<ref>Hosler 1988.</ref> === Phase 2: CE 1200/1300 - 1521 === Metal smiths demonstrated increasing technical sophistication, producing both utilitarian and status-linked items. During the latter phase, [[Michoacán]] emerged as a technological hub, with metal artifacts also appearing at the adjacent zones of [[Guerrero]] and [[Jalisco]]. Alloys became more prevalent during the second phase, as metal workers experimented with color, strength and fluidity. Formerly utilitarian assemblages transformed, with new focus placed upon metallic status objects. Further, the appearance of a copper-tin bronze alloy suggests contact between West Mexico and Peru during this period. However, many of the alloys/alloy concentrations used in West Mexico appear to reflect local innovation. Scholars such as Dorothy Holser suggest that ancient Mesoamericans were unique in their attention to metals peculiar aesthetic properties, namely, the brilliant sounds and colors evoked through movement of metallic objects.<ref>Holser 1988, 1995.</ref> The rather late emergence of metallurgy in ancient Mesoamerican likely contributed to its novelty and subsequent role as a marker of [[elite]] status. It has been suggested that Mesoamerican metal smiths produced particular alloys with the chief aim of exploiting the alloys’ emergent color properties, particularly the vivid gold tones produced through infusion of tin, and the silver shades that develop at high arsenic concentrations. Notably, certain artifacts from West Mexico contain tin or arsenic at concentrations as high as 23 weight percent, while concentrations of alloying elements at roughly 2 to 5 weight percent are typically adequate for augmented strength and mechanical utility.<ref>Holser 1988, 1995.</ref> Metal smiths in pre-Columbian West Mexico particularly exploited the brilliance inherent in metallic sound and sheen, suggesting that their creations tended to occupy a sacred and symbolic space.<ref>Holser 1995.</ref> Metallic colors, gold and silver, may have been connected with [[Sun|solar]] and [[Moon|lunar]] [[deities]]. As well, bell sounds have been associated with [[fertility rituals]] and protection in warfare.<ref>Holser 1995.</ref> ==Archaeological sites yielding metal artifacts== === Central Mexico === (CE 900-1450) Utilitarian and ceremonial objects; Objects of personal adornment' #Atotonilco, [[Hidalgo (Mexico)|Hidalgo]] #[[Calixtlahuaca]], [[México (state)|Mexico]] #[[Tenayuca]], Mexico #[[Tenochitlan]], [[Mexico City|Distrito Federal (D.F.)]] #[[Teotihuacan]], Mexico #[[Texcoco (altepetl)|Texcoco]], Mexico === West Mexico === (CE 800/900-1450) Utilitarian and ceremonial objects; objects of personal adornment #Amapa, [[Nayarit]] #Apatzingan, [[Michoacán]] #Atoyac, [[Jalisco]] #Cojumatlán, Michoacán #Coyuca de Catalán, [[Guerrero]] #Culicaán, [[Sinaloa]] #Jiquilpan, Michoacán #Peñitas, Nayarit #Río Balsas, Guerrero #Tancitaro, Michoacán #Telpalcátepec, Michoacán #Tepic, Nayarit #Texmelincan, Guerrero #Tuxcacuesco, Jalisco #[[Tzintzuntzan]], Michoacán #Yestla, Guerrero #Zacpu, Michoacán #Zamora, Michoacán === Eastern Mexico === (CE 900-1500) Objects of personal adornment and ceremonial objects #Cerro Montoso, [[Veracruz]] #Chachalacas, Veracruz #[[El Tajin]], Veracruz #Isla de Sacrificios, Veracruz #Pánuco, Veracruz #Tampico, Veracruz === Southern Mexico === (CE 900-1500) Utilitarian and ceremonial objects; objects of personal adornment #[[Coatlán]], [[Oaxaca]] #[[Coixtlahuaca]], Oaxaca #[[Ejutla]], Oaxaca #[[Guiengola]], Oaxaca #[[Huajuapan]], Oaxaca #[[Huitzo]], Oaxaca #[[Juquila]], Oaxaca #[[Mitla]], Oaxaca #[[Monte Alban]] Oaxaca #[[Sola de Vega]], Oaxaca #[[Tehuantepec]], Oaxaca #[[Teotitlán del Camino]], Oaxaca #[[Teotitlán del Valle]], Oaxaca #[[Tlacolula]], Oaxaca #[[Tlaxiaco]], Oaxaca #[[Tututepec]], Oaxaca #[[Xaaga]], Oaxaca #[[Yanhuitlán]], Oaxaca #[[Zachila]], Oaxaca === Southern Maya Area === (CE 450(?)-1500) Utilitarian and ceremonial objects; objects of personal adornment #Chipal, [[Guatemala]] #Chutixtiox, Guatemala #[[Kaminaljuyú]], Guatemala #Los Naranjos, [[Honduras]] #Nebaj, Guatemala #Quemistlá “Bell Caves”, Honduras #Tajumulco, Guatemala #[[Tazumal]], [[El Salvador]] #Zacualpa, Guatemala #[[Zaculeu]], Guatemala #[[Copán]], Honduras #[[Motagua River]] valley, Guatemala #San Augustín Acasaguastlán, Guatemala === Central Maya Area === (CE 900-1500) Utilitarian and ceremonial objects; objects of personal adornment #[[Chiapa de Corzo (Mesoamerican site)|Chiapa de Corzo]], [[Chiapas]] #El Paredón, Chiapas #Polol, Guatemala #Santa Rita Corozal, [[Belize]] #[[Tayasal]], Guatemala #[[Tikal]], Guatemala #[[Yaxhá]], Guatemala #[[Palenque]], Chiapas #Wild Cane Cay, [[Belize]] === Northern Maya Area === (CE 1000-1450) Utilitarian and ceremonial objects; objects of personal adornment #[[Chichén Itzá]], [[Yucatán]] #Dzantún C’hen, Yucatán #[[Mayapán]], Yucatán === Northern Mexico === (CE 1000-1450) Utilitarian objects; objects of personal adornment #[[Casas Grandes]], [[Chihuahua]] #Chalchihuites, [[Zacatecas]] #Hervideros, [[Durango]] #[[La Quemada]], Zacatecas #Navocoyán, Durango #Chihuahua, Chihuahua #Schroeder site, Durango #Venis Meicis, [[San Luis Potosí]] #Zape, Durango #Babicora, Chihuahua #Rancho San Miguiel, Chihuahua #Santa Maria R., Chihuahua ==Notes== {{reflist}} ==References== *Hosler, Dorothy (1988). Ancient West Mexican Metallurgy: South and Central American Origins and West Mexican Transformations. ''American Anthropologist'' 90: 832-855. *Hosler, Dorothy (1995). Sound, color and meaning in the metallurgy of Ancient West Mexico. ''World Archaeology'' 27: 100-115. *Pendergast, David M. (1962). Metal Artifacts in Prehispanic Mesoamerica. ''American Antiquity'' 27: 520-545. ==External links== *[http://www.precolumbiangold.com Pre-Columbian Gold] *[http://people.uncw.edu/simmonss/The%20Maya%20Archaeometallurgy%20Project.htm The Maya Archaeometallurgy Project at Lamanai, Belize] [[Category:Science and technology in Mesoamerica]] [[Category:history of metallurgy]]