Preliminary pXRF Analysis of a Previously Undescribed Obsidian Artifact from Los Guachimontones, Mexico

Summary

This is an abstract from the "From the Underworld to the Heavens: Expanding the Study of Central Jalisco’s Past" session, at the 90th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

There is a previously undescribed artifact type, initially classified as a perforator, that I have recognized as distinct among the excavated collections from Los Guachimontones. The artifacts are long, thin, tapered pieces that appear to be heavily worked and come to a point at one end. They do not appear outside the Tequila Valley, highlighting their localized significance. This study aims to aid in the future characterization of these obsidian artifacts – specifically in understanding their use. I conducted pXRF analyses of the objects to determine their sourcing, as this non-destructive method is effective for characterizing the Tequila Valley’s obsidian sources. First, I will discuss their contexts, visual characteristics, and similar examples in other literature. Then, I will focus on the pXRF results to narrow down the possible obsidian sources used to make these artifacts. Since the original study, more complete examples with the same features have been identified at museums or private collections within the Tequila Valley. The contexts, obsidian quality, and skill required to create these pieces suggest they could have been highly valued and reserved for special occasions. I conclude with recommendations for future research to refine their potential use and significance within the region.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 90th Annual Meeting, Denver, CO (2025)   •
• From the Underworld to the Heavens: Expanding the Study of Central Jalisco’s Past

Keywords

Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 52469