Compositional Analysis of Obsidian Artifacts from the Great Temple of Tenochtitlan Using pXRF

Summary

This is an abstract from the "2024 Fryxell Award Symposium: Papers in Honor of Luis Barba" session, at the 89th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

Compositional analyses are fundamental in modern archaeological research. Recently, the introduction of portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF) equipment has motivated an even greater interest in integrating chemical composition and provenance studies of raw materials as one of the primary objectives in archaeological projects. Obsidian is one of the most intriguing raw materials for provenance studies; its homogeneous composition and ubiquity in the archaeological context make it perfect for studying procurement processes and technological innovation in complex societies. In the case of the sacred precinct of Tenochtitlan (the capital of the Aztec Empire), there was no quantitative data about the different types of obsidian procured by this urban center. This study involves the analysis of 814 obsidian artifacts in two levels: a diachronic one, based on a sample that encompasses a long period of Aztec history (ca. AD 1375–1502), and a contextual one, based on the type of context where the artifacts were found (offerings and constructive fill). The data collected shows the frequencies and variations for specific kinds of obsidian through time and the preference for particular colors and qualities for the production of ritual and non-ritual objects.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• 2024 Fryxell Award Symposium: Papers in Honor of Luis Barba   •
• Society for American Archaeology 89th Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA (2024)

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Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 37932.0