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Posted on 05/16/2025 1:45:21 PM PDT by nickcarraway
The Aztec Empire once hosted an expansive trade network that brought volcanic glass to its capital from right across Mesoamerica, coast to coast.
The largest compositional study of obsidian artifacts found in the ancient Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan has now revealed the far-flung influence of the Mexica culture – the largest and most powerful faction of the Aztec Alliance.
The 788 precious obsidian objects analyzed include weapons, urns, earrings, pendants, scepters, and decorated human skulls. They appear to have been sourced from across the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt, even from the lands of rival governments.
The discovery speaks to the commercial prowess of the Aztec Empire at its peak.
Volcanic Deposit
"This work not only highlights the Mexica Empire's reach and complexity but also demonstrates how the archaeological sciences can be leveraged to study ancient objects and what they can tell us about past cultural practices," says anthropologist Jason Nesbitt from Tulane University in the US.
The Aztec Empire is known to have used obsidian ubiquitously. This volcanic glass is harder than ordinary steel, fractures smoothly into an edge sharper than a razor blade, has a mirror-like quality when polished, and comes in a variety of beautiful colors.
Researchers have found obsidian objects at Aztec sites in abundance, but rarely has previous research brought together such a large collection for analysis of the mineral's origins.
"This kind of compositional analysis allows us to trace how imperial expansion, political alliances, and trade networks evolved over time," explains lead author and anthropologist Diego Matadamas-Gomora from Tulane.
Working with Mexico's Templo Mayor Project and the National Institute of Anthropology and History, Matadamas-Gomora and colleagues have laid out a timeline and a map for hundreds of obsidian objects found in the Aztec's late-capital – which now sits beneath the historic center of Mexico City.
Nearly 90 percent of the haul can be traced to Sierra de Pachuca, about 94 kilometers (58 miles) northeast of Tenochtitlan – a region that is known for its green and golden volcanic glass.
The rest of the obsidian objects are derived from seven different locations, some of which sit far outside the ancient lands once dominated by the Mexica between 1375 and 1520 CE.
In the early phases of the Mexica culture, before the Aztec Alliance formed, Tenochtitlan's obsidian was sourced mostly from nearby Pachuca. But after the consolidation of the Empire around 1430 CE, obsidian from rival polities seems to have been brought to the capital in greater numbers.
For instance, the authors traced some obsidian blades and flakes to the region of Ucareo, located 173 kilometers northwest. This area was dominated by the Purépecha Empire, who spoke a different language to the Aztecs.
"It is well known that the Mexica had quarries and workshops in Sierra de Pachuca to get direct access to this type of obsidian," write the authors of the analysis.
"However, even if the Mexica exploited and transported obsidian in large quantities from Pachuca to Tenochtitlan, this situation did not limit their access to obsidian from several other deposits, some of them beyond their political borders."
These objects would have probably been bought by city residents in Tenochtitlan's great market. Historical documents suggest merchants from various regions in Central America would gather here to sell their goods.
"The presence of at least seven sources of obsidian indicates that the Mexica expanded their commercial interactions during this period," writes the team.
Ritual objects made of obsidian, however, were rarely made from 'foreign' volcanic glass. These sacred relics were usually sourced from the nearby Sierra de Pachuca, probably because of the unique green colors.
By studying the origins of Aztec obsidian, researchers hope to further map the movement of goods across Mesoamerica, following in the steps of a long-lost empire.
The study was published in PNAS.
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The whole supply chain collapsed ... because of tariffs.
Meanwhile, North of the border, at the banking center of the southwest (around 1,000 AD), in Chaco Canyon, NM, chips of turquoise were the preferred currency. Turquoise is typically found on top of copper deposits.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaco_Culture_National_Historical_Park
Many, many moons ago, I had a double major in college. My first love (study wise) Spanish, and archeology. While I learned that studying archeology is, yes, fascinating, you cannot pay a mortgage, or any other bill. Before dropping the archeology major, I was able to participate in some Kalifornia, and then Central American archeology digs.
Of all the books I wanted, or was forced to read, two stand out, and I recommend them wholeheartedly.
The Hummingbird and the Hawk - by R. C. Padden.
It documents much of the Mexico, and especially the Aztecs before and during Cortez. When Cortez arrived, Moctezuma II ruled. There was a General behind the scenes named Tlacaellel. Tlacaellel had the ear of Moctezuma I and II. It is a very well written book, using original, ancient sources.
My other favorite is The Discovery & Conquest Of Mexico by Bernal Diaz Del Castillo. He was a soldier under Cortez, and survived it all. In his old age, he was blind and poor. He was sad that he had not much to pass on to his children and grandchildren. He decided to document his account of what he did and witnessed. Being blind, he dictated the entire book.
I think we can conclude that they were preparing for an attack by the White Walkers.
When I see “CE” after a date, I think Christian Era.
Try it, it works!
Steel > Iron > Bronze > Copper > Obsidian
A Coast-to-Coast Trade Network, not to be confused with a Coast-to-Coast A.M. Trade Network where the gray aliens used bigfoots to mine for obsidian and traded it for chupacabras.
You can see it for free on Tubi TV.
Make sure you click the Captions on, because they speak Aztec.
Re: check out Apocalypto.
Thanks, I will.
It will be interesting. I do not know everything, but I know a lot. I used to love TV shows like In Search Of - they would have stuff on the screen and talk about “no one knows......” - Sometimes I would tell people watching with me “Well, I know what that is, or how they did it.”
The most recent Lidar discoveries are way cool, and not a big surprise. I was fortunate to help with Mayan excavation in the Yucatan. You could see ALL KINDS OF shhhhhtuf under the jungle growth. The jungle images in the first Indiana Jones movie, without the headhunters, is very real. The jungle takes it back; not just covering it, but growing right through what man has built.
its my theory that that whole culture from ariona to new mexico up to the border of Nevada utah and colorado was wiped out in the 1300-1400 or about 100-200 years before Cortez. That’s known. Its also known that they all disappeared at once. What’s not known is who or what did them in.
My guess is that it was aztec raiders from south of the border. Especially if aztec obsidian was found in chaco canyon
The rest of the obsidian keyword, plus 'obsidiantrade', sorted:
https://i.imgur.com/QU7CwvM.jpeg
There was a constant flux of nations and states in the region. North of the border things were also diffuse, but borders were far less certain, being controlled by raiding parties.
At the same time, Chaco was central to a trading axis all the way from New England to South America.
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