Traces of Prehispanic Primary Smelting in Present Traditional Copper Work from Santa Clara del Cobre, Mexico: Historical and Ethnographical Evidence

Summary

This is an abstract from the "Technological Transitions in Prehispanic and Colonial Metallurgy: Recent and Ongoing Research at the Archaeological Site of Jicalán Viejo, in Central Michoacán, West Mexico" session, at the 88th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

The Tarascan Empire had become the most important prehispanic metallurgical center in Mesoamerica by around 1450 CE, with copper being the most commonly used metal to manufacture a variety of sumptuary objects. These artifacts were used as symbols of social and political elite status, as well as in religious ceremonies and other rituals. Some utilitarian implements such as needles and hooks were also manufactured during this period. Unfortunately, we have no concrete records on Tarascan metallurgical production in Michoacán. After the Spanish conquest, the main source of copper in New Spain continued to be located in the Province of Michoacán. When the colonizers assumed control of the local copper industry, they recruited indigenous miners and smelters, who for decades performed metallurgical techniques. The limited evidence suggests that during the colonial time, this procedure was based on indigenous knowledge, but more research is needed to affirm it, ultimately. The evidence suggests that the current melting method used in Santa Clara del Cobre has some prehispanic elements that persisted in time from the smelting process used during Tarascan Empire and colonial times. Historical and ethnoarchaeological data support this finding.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Technological Transitions in Prehispanic and Colonial Metallurgy: Recent and Ongoing Research at the Archaeological Site of Jicalán Viejo, in Central Michoacán, West Mexico   •
• Society for American Archaeology 88th Annual Meeting, Portland, OR (2023)

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Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 37329.0