Dissertation Research: An Archaeological Study of the Aztec-Tarascan Frontier

论文研究：阿兹特克-塔拉斯坎边境的考古研究

• 批准号: 9731980
• 负责人: Kenneth Hirth
• 金额: $ 1.18万
• 依托单位: Pennsylvania State Univ University Park
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 1998
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 1998-02-01 至 1999-01-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=9731980&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Dissertation; Research; Archaeological; Study; Aztec

Under the direction of Dr. Kenneth Hirth, Mr. Jay Silverstein will collect data for his doctoral dissertation. The goal of his archaeological project is to understand the organization of a border area, located in the Guerrero region of Mexico, which separated the Tarascan and Aztec empires. In late prehistoric times two great empires - the better known Aztec and the less studied Tarascan arose in central Mexico. Both extended their ranges through conquest and the incorporation of subject peoples and Guerrero, where their borders met, was the scene of extensive and prolonged conflict. Ethnohistoric sources record major battles in the region. Archaeologists rarely have the opportunity to study such a well defined and demarcated frontier and, in part, Mr. Silverstein wishes to define the material correlates of such a situation. Although the border was defended, it also remained inhabited by local peoples who were present before the establishment of either empire. Preliminary data indicates that exchange took place across the boundary and people continued to live in this region. Mr. Silverstein wishes to understand the nature of the trade and interaction involved. Researchers interested in the rise and functioning of empires have tended to focus more on the `core` or capital regions of empires and less on peripheral areas. To gain a better perspective, both core and periphery must be taken into account and this research will provide insight into how both the Aztecs and Tarascans governed. Mr. Silverstein has designed a two stage plan. First, sites known from previous research and air photo interpretation will be sampled and mapped. Secondly, an intensive field survey will be conducted over a 60 km square area between the nearest Aztec and Tarascan habitations. Sites located will be plotted on air photos, sampled through intensive collection and all visible features will be sketched and photographed. Artifact samples will be analyzed to provide information on both chronology and exchange. This research is important for several reasons. It will provide new information on how prehistoric empires functioned and interacted. It will help to fill in the archaeological record for a poorly known part of Mexico and will assist in training a promising young scientist.

在 Kenneth Hirth 博士的指导下，Jay Silverstein 先生将为他的博士论文收集数据。他的考古项目的目标是了解位于墨西哥格雷罗地区的边境地区的组织结构，该地区将塔拉斯坎帝国和阿兹特克帝国分开。在史前时代晚期，两个伟大的帝国——更为人所知的阿兹特克帝国和较少被研究的塔拉斯坎帝国在墨西哥中部兴起。两国都通过征服和吞并附属民族来扩大自己的疆域，而两国边界交汇的格雷罗州则发生了广泛而持久的冲突。民族史资料记录了该地区的重大战斗。考古学家很少有机会研究如此明确界定和划定的边界，西尔弗斯坦先生在某种程度上希望确定这种情况的物质关联。尽管边界得到了保卫，但它仍然居住着两个帝国建立之前就存在的当地人。初步数据表明，跨境交流发生，人们继续在该地区生活。西尔弗斯坦先生希望了解所涉及的贸易和互动的性质。对帝国的崛起和运作感兴趣的研究人员往往更多地关注帝国的“核心”或首都地区，而不是外围地区。为了获得更好的视角，必须考虑核心和外围，这项研究将深入了解阿兹特克人和塔拉斯坎人的统治方式。 西尔弗斯坦先生设计了一个两阶段计划。首先，将从之前的研究和航空照片解读中获悉的地点进行采样并绘制地图。其次，将在最近的阿兹特克人和塔拉斯坎人居住地之间 60 平方公里的区域内进行密集的实地调查。所找到的地点将被绘制在航空照片上，通过大量收集进行采样，所有可见的特征都将被绘制草图和拍照。将对文物样本进行分析，以提供有关年代和交换的信息。 这项研究很重要，原因有几个。它将提供有关史前帝国如何运作和相互作用的新信息。它将有助于填补墨西哥鲜为人知的地区的考古记录，并有助于培养一位有前途的年轻科学家。