Ritualism and Metal Objects in Michoacan

Summary

The area of the current state of Michoacan has been considered one of the most important producers of metal objects during the Prehispanic period. These objects are always related to various rituals because of its peculiar characteristics of color, sound, shape and even smell. From the analysis of more than 1,800 metal objects from extensive collections, particularly at the Regional Museum of Michoacan and the State Museum of Michoacan, by the Project Archaeology and Landscape of the Center - South Area of Michoacan, we could deepen into various and important rituals in which the characteristics of the metal objects played fundamental roles in the interagency relationships between practitioners and ritual specialists, and the phenomenon of metal objects as another factor which interact as minimum unit of symbolism underlying the Tarascan world view. In that sense, we investigate the agential abilities of metal objects in the Tarascan world through archaeological contexts, but especially through the study of historical sources.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• New Research in West Mexico: State of Michoacán   •
• Society for American Archaeology 82nd Annual Meeting, Vancouver, BC (2017)

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Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 15117