Commercial relations of the core Teuchitlán tradition through the study of obsidian

Abstract

Obsidian artifacts from the archaeological sites of Guachimontones and Loma Alta, Jalisco, Mexico, were analyzed through neutron activation. They were recovered from excavations and surface collections directly related to the ceremonial centers. The obsidian pieces (31 samples) were identified as from the following sources: Teuchitlán/La Mora (87%), Ahuisculco/Las Navajas (6.6%), La Joya (3.2%), and Magdalena (3.2 %), Jalisco. With these results, we can infer trade relations within the core of the Teuchitlán tradition. According to world systems theory, Teuchitlán did not have hegemony over obsidian trade in the Tequila volcano region; instead it controlled only the deposits in the group designed T (Teuchitlán/La Mora).  Apparently other nearby deposits were controlled by centers including Santa Quiteria, Las Navajas, and Mesa Alta; in other words, the extraction of resources would have taken place on the basis of deposit proximity. Nine ceramic samples were also analyzed; multi-element analysis of pastes did not reveal a statistically significant difference between the domestic monochrome wares, Oconahua red/white and Teuchitlán red/cream, with the exception of a sample whose proportion of temper seemed higher. X-ray diffraction made it possible to identify quartz, feldspar, clay, mica, and a polymorphic sort of quartz. It may be inferred that they were most likely prepared with materials from the same deposits, although the manufacturing techniques and the firing temperatures in particular might not have been the same for all of them.