Prehispanic Settlement and Obsidian Procurement in the Zinapecuaro Michoacan Source Area

对许多墨西哥考古遗址的黑铁矿(火山玻璃)文物进行的化学分析表明，大部分原材料来自墨西哥中部的Zinapecuaro地区。在初步侦察中，丹·希兰博士找到了几个具体的来源，以及与这种材料的开采和加工有关的文化遗迹。通过对地表散布的检查，他还发现了几个栖息地。在NSF的支持下，希兰博士将进行为期六个月的野外赛季，然后进行一年的分析。他和他的同事们将继续并扩大密集的地面调查。然后，将在选定的石矿场和相关地点进行探索性挖掘。然后，将在居住地点进行第二系列挖掘。将对回收的材料进行分析，以阐明黑铁矿的生产系统，并提供该地区定居和开采的详细历史。黑铁矿的水合作用分析将提供一个年代学框架。最后，来自Zinapecuaro地区的数据将与墨西哥其他地区的信息合成，以显示经济和政治关系如何随着时间的推移而变化。由于黑铁矿相对容易加工，并且具有极其锋利的边缘(而且在西班牙人到来之前缺乏金属工具)，它是墨西哥制造石器的首选材料。鉴于其起源于火山，黑岩只在有限的地区被发现，在史前交易的面积很大。不同的来源在化学上是不同的，因此，有可能将工具与地理原产地相匹配。考古学家已经认识到，贸易和对稀缺资源的控制在墨西哥文明的崛起中发挥了重要作用，并认为黑铁矿可能是其中最重要的商品。因此，通过对产地生产的研究，可以更多地了解这种贸易是如何起源、发展和维持的。这项研究很重要，因为它将填补墨西哥考古地图上的一个关键空白。在Zinapecuaro地区发生的事情对其他地方复杂社会的发展产生了重大影响。这项工作将增加我们对复杂社会如何发展的理解。

Chemical analysis of obsidian (volcanic glass) artifacts from many Mexican archaeological sites indicates that much of the raw material derives from the Zinapecuaro area in Central Mexico. In preliminary reconnaissances Dr. Dan Healan has located several specific sources, as well as cultural remains associated with the mining and working of this material. Through examination of surface scatters, he has also discovered several habitation sites. With NSF support, Dr. Healan will conduct a six month field season followed by a year of analysis. He and his colleagues will continue and expand the intensive surface survey. Exploratory excavation will then be conducted at selected quarry and related sites. A second series of excavations will then be undertaken at habitation sites. Materials recovered will be analyzed to shed light on the obsidian production system and to provide a detailed history of settlement and exploitation of the region. Obsidian hydration analysis will provide a chronological framework. Finally, data from the Zinapecuaro region will be synthesized with information from other areas in Mexico to show how economic and political relationships changed over time. Because obsidian is relatively easy to work and holds an extremely sharp edge, (and given the lack of metal implements before the arrival of the Spaniards) it was the preferred material for stone tool manufacture in Mexico. Given its volcanic origin, obsidian is found in only a limited number of areas and in prehistory was traded over large areas. Different sources are chemically distinct and, thus, it is possible to match implement with geographical point of origin. Archaeologists have come to realize that trade and control over scarce resources played a major role in the rise of Mexican civilization and believe that obsidian was perhaps the most important commodity involved. Thus, through study of production at a source area, it will be possible to understand more about how this trade originated, developed, and was maintained. This research is important because it will fill in a crucial blank in the archaeological map of Mexico. What happened in the Zinapecuaro region had a major effect in the development of complex societies elsewhere. The work will increase our understanding of how complex societies develop.