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Hundreds of obsidian artifacts revealed where the Aztecs acquired the volcanic glass they used for tools, ornaments, or religious objects centuries ago.
The 788 new studies are the largest sample of obsidian artifacts analyzed for Tenochtitlan, which served as the Aztec capital, also known as the Aztecs.
Using portable x-ray fluorescence, a nondestructive method for identifying geochemical fingerprints, the researchers have confirmed that Mexica is partially on certain green and golden obsidian and produces items for rituals.
However, communities also relied on everyday objects made of various types of obsidian, such as blades for cutting and scuffing, and thus had to establish a complex economic system that encouraged long-distance trade with rival societies across political boundaries, the researchers said.
“Mexica preferred Green Obsidian, but in the form of non-ritual artifacts, the diversity of obsidian types suggests that obsidian tools from multiple sources reached the Imperial capital through the market.” “By studying where this material came from, we can explore the movement of goods across Mesoamerica.”
The researchers were surprised by the variety of obsidian found in the ancient capitals found on other sites in Mesoamerica. This discovery also reveals how the Aztec Society evolved – introducing more standardized religion and control before the empire fell into 1520 – shows how obsidian use changed over time.
The Aztecs did not discover obsidian. According to Matadamas Gomora, when they arrived in the Mexican Basin in 1200, it was already the most common ingredient in Mesoamerica when they used the use of obsidian from the archaic period from 6000 to 2000 BC.
Obsidian originated from a geological layer known as the Trans-Mexican volcanic belt, spanning 621 miles (1,000 kilometers) from central Mexico’s western to the east coast, the study authors noted.
According to the research authors, craftsmen who have experience working with obsidian were able to shape volcanic glass into incredibly sharp instruments. The natural reflectivity and luster of the material allowed the Mexican people to turn obsidian into highly refined ornaments and religious objects.
The artifact investigated in this study was discovered in what is now Mexico City during an excavation that took place over decades from the main Aztec temple in Tenochtitlan, known as Mayor of Templo. Almost 90% of these obsidian artifacts came from the Sierra de Pachuca Mountains, research found.
Centuries ago, Mexica buried miniature weapons and jewel offerings in this Sacred Heart of the city. They considered green obsidian to be the most valuable of all obsidian because of its hue, and called it “master’s obsidian,” said Matadamas Gomora.
The Green Obsidian was thought to have a symbolic connection to Tran, the mythical city inhabited by the divine Quetzalcoatl, which was believed to be the origin of the ancestors of Mexican civilization.
“Most obsidian is naturally gray or black,” Matadamas Gomora said in an email. “The Green Obsidians at Sierra de Pachuca are unique and are associated with this particular geological source. The Aztecs recognized and evaluated it. Furthermore, the Geological Layer Process of Sierra de Pachuca has enabled the creation of high-quality obsidian with this source, making it ideal for producing complex, rough ornaments.”
John Milhauser, an associate professor of sociology and anthropology at North Carolina State University, highlights how important non-destructive x-ray fluorescence spectroscopy is to archaeology. Millhauser was not involved in the new research.
“Without it, we would not be able to study the history of these artifacts in such detail,” Milhauser said. “This technique has been widely used for about 20 years, but with each new application it adds an important part to the puzzles of the ancient Mexican economy.”
The other 10% of the artifacts were made using Obsidian in seven other locations, including Otumba, Tulancingo, Ucareo and El Paraíso. Otonba and Sierra de Pachuca were both ruled by the Aztec Empire, but places like Ucaleo crossed the political borders of the empire, suggesting that Mexicans did not limit the flow of obsidian tools from their rival regions to local markets, Matadamas Gomora said.
Additionally, this tool can be found in rural and urban markets. The fact that people living in the heart of the capital relied on the same obsidian material as the surrounding country villagers and farmers was one of the most impressive findings of the study, according to Milhauser, who also directs the graduate program in anthropology at North Carolina State University.
“The size of the obsidian supply and distribution network is extraordinary given that hundreds of thousands of people lived in the area,” he said. “This is a powerful reminder of how robust and widespread the economy of Central Mexico is 500 years ago and that goods like Obsidian are widely distributed to meet the needs of communities across the region.”
In the early days of Aztec history, obsidian for rituals and everyday objects came from a limited source. However, after the Aztec Empire defeated Tepanek from Azkapozzarco and began expanding the empire in 1430, obsidian types increased, indicating how Mexica expanded its commercial network, Matadamas Gomora said.
“Later, between (1481-1486), Mexica was ruled by the problematic tlatoani (Aztec ruler), Tizok, who destabilized the rule of the empire,” he said in an email. In 1486, when the new rulers came to power, the diversity of obsidian again increased to seven sources. Therefore, our insightful perspective on obsidian consumption revealed that the availability of this raw material is directly related to the transformation of the capital. ”
Next, to better understand the ancient obsidian trade, Matadama Gomora wants to reveal how obsidian moved across Mesoamerica, including other archaeological sites, and arrive at Tenocittitlan.
“Archeologists are primarily because of the modern sprawl of Mexico City regarding Tenochtitlan, the capital of Mexica,” Milhauser said in an email. “All new research provides fresh insight into the lives of ancient inhabitants.”