Foreing Produced Shell Objects in the Templo Mayor of Tenochtitlan
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Foreing Produced Shell Objects in the Templo Mayor of Tenochtitlan Adrián Velázquez Castro1, Belem Zúñiga Arellano2 and José María García Guerrero2 Museo del Templo Mayor, Instituto Nacional de Antropologia e Historia, INAH. Seminario No. 8, Centro Histórico, Mexico DF 06060, Mexico. e-mail: [email protected] 2 Proyecto Templo Mayor, Instituto Nacional de Antropologia e Historia, INAH. Seminario No. 8, Centro Histórico, Mexico DF 06060, Mexico. 1
ABSTRACT The analyses of work traces in the shell objects found in the offerings of the Great Temple of Tenochtitlan, by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), has allowed to find an important group of objects made locally in Tenochtitlan. These shell pieces have been found in the constructive stages IVb to VII (1469-1520). Recently, another groups of objects have been found that present different work traces and that seems to be foreign productions. In this paper this new data will be presented and it will be discuss the possible origin of the objects. INTRODUCTION Until only a short time ago, scholars of Mesoamerican cultures were of the widespread opinion that the Mexicas played a relatively small role in the production of their material culture. Therefore, for example, López Luján has stated that the most abundant pieces in the offerings found in the Templo Mayor of Tenochtitlan were of foreign origin, probably acquired through tribute, trade, gift-giving, or looting [1]. However, recent research has shown that at least a part of the goods interred in offerings in Tenochtitlan were actually locally produced, some possibly made in the ruler’s palace, and intended for state religious practices [2-4]. Part of the results of this research has also been the detection of groups of pieces that predate Tenochca imperial production, which seems to have been consolidated starting with the rule of Axayacatl (1469–1481) [5]. Also identified are elements with features that clearly indicate foreign origin, which can occasionally be traced. The purpose of the present paper is to present two groups of shell objects that may be regarded as foreign. In one case the possible origin of the pieces may be proposed, but in the other, unfortunately, it remains uncertain. STUDYING THE STYLE OF SHELL OBJECTS Since its origin one of the basic concerns of archaeology has been determining the affiliation and dating of material remains left by past societies. Traditionally both issues have been dealt with through the identification of diagnostic traits, whose origin could be traced to a site, a geographic region, a culture, or a period. Underlying this approach is the assumption that different cultures have particular ways and characteristics of producing objects, in other words, a specific “style”. Definitions of styles differ depending on the different theoretical trends underlying them, although in general it may be said that style alludes to the systematic and regulated
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choices of known alternatives that are standardized in a recurrent way of presenting forms and processes [6]. Its char
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