The Analysis of Craft Production and Residential Activity at Xochicalco, Mexico

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Hirth In 1992 and 1993, with NSF support, Dr. Kenneth Hirth conducted extensive excavation at the site of Xochicalo an archaeological site located in Mexico. Xochicalo is important because it marks the capital of a pre-Columbian state which was a major regional power and because a survey of surface remains indicated that it was rich in archaeological materials. During the course of two seasons excavation, Dr. Hirth and his team uncovered three intact and well preserved residential compounds with rich and undisturbed artifact assemblages. Large quantities of household goods, domestic tools and the remains of obsidian (volcanic glass) stone tool production were recovered. The unusual preservation makes it possible to engage in a detailed analysis of domestic activity patterns which usually can not be attempted using archaeological remains and Dr. Hirth will undertake such work with support of this grant. Archaeologists want to understand how complex societies arose and how they were maintailed in technologically simple societies which lacked written language and computation systems. Evidence has shown that societies developed systems of economic specialization in which production took place in varied and carefully regulated contexts and that control over this production helped to reinforce the centralization of power which state control requires. Obsidian played an important role in pre- metal societies because this glasslike rock can we worked to produce sharp cutting edges. At Xochicalco obsidian is abundant and is present in both the residential structures and other workshop areas. Through the analyses which Dr. Hirth plans to conduct insight will be gained into the organization of this important industry. This work is significant for several reasons. It will produce data of interest to many archaeologists. It will also increase our understanding of the emergence and maintenance of complex societies.