Evaluating the Potential Role of Itinerant Artisans in Obsidian Distribution in Prehispanic Puebla-Tlaxcala

Summary

This is an abstract from the "SAA 2025: Individual Abstracts" session, at the 90th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

This study uses data from multiple excavation projects to examine the procurement and production strategies of obsidian artifacts in Mexico’s Puebla-Tlaxcala Valley, focusing on the socioeconomic dynamics between different groups from the Middle Formative (900–500 BC) to the Late Postclassic (AD 1250–1519) periods. Geochemical and spatial analyses reveal that the obsidian previously attributed to the El Paredón source predominantly originates from the Tres Cabezas subsource. The analysis of obsidian artifacts from nine sites revealed that local production processes began from intermediate stages, with polyhedral cores being reduced to produce prismatic blades for local consumption. Technological evidence suggests that procurement strategies evolved from independent methods to more complex cooperative systems involving itinerant artisans and merchants who maintained a consistent supply network to the region. The study highlights the crucial role of sociocultural relations and trade dynamics in the distribution of obsidian. The continuity and adaptability of these systems ensured the steady supply of obsidian artifacts, revealing the intricate political and economic landscape of the Puebla-Tlaxcala Valley over millennia.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 90th Annual Meeting, Denver, CO (2025)   •
• SAA 2025: Individual Abstracts

Keywords

Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 52826