Diachronic and Synchronic Analyses of Obsidian Procurement in the Mixteca Alta, Oaxaca

Conclusion

With the support of FAMSI, 365 obsidian fragments were sourced. Combined with the results of the pilot study, there is now a database of 410 obsidian samples that have been sourced for the Cruz B and Yucuita phases at Oaxaca. These data allow for significant synchronic interpretations at Etlatongo – different access to select obsidian sources – as well as important diachronic patterns. Ancient inhabitants of Etlatongo participated in a variety of exchange networks that brought obsidian from as far away as West México and Guatemala to their houses. Rather than being a "periphery" compared to the Valley of Oaxaca, I argue that Etlatongo was at a level of socio-political complexity similar to that of the largest center in the Oaxaca Valley – San José Mogote.

While the interpretations and conclusions presented in this report will be refined as the database is further analyzed and expanded, this project has generated raw data available for comparative research by scholars investigating questions of political economy and social complexity in Formative Oaxaca and beyond. I envision the data presented in Appendix 1 as relevant to any researcher exploring interregional interaction during the Formative period in Mesoamerica.

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