متالورژی مس تاراسکان: دیدگاه چندجانبه (باستان‌شناسی پیشاکلمبی آرکئوپرس)

In the early sixteenth century much of West México was under the rule of the Purhépecha Empire, known to Europeans as the Tarascan Kingdom of Michuacan. Both archaeological and ethnohistorical evidence indicate that during the Late Postclassic Period (A.D. 1350-1525) this political unit was the primary center for metallurgy and metalworking in Mesoamerica. This technology was largely based on copper and its alloys. Tarascan Copper Metallurgy: A multiapproach perspective focuses on evidence recovered from the area surrounding Santa Clara del Cobre, a Tarascan community in Central Michoacán. This pioneer research required the employment of multiple strands of evidence, including archaeological survey and excavation, ethnoarchaeology, experimental replication, and archaeometallurgy. Intensive surface survey located concentrations of manufacturing byproducts (i.e. slag) on surface that represented potential production areas. Stratigraphic excavation and subsequent archaeometallurgical analysis of physical remains were combined with ethnohistorical and ethnoarchaeological data, as well as comparative analogy, to propose a model for prehispanic copper production among the Tarascans. The goal of this analysis was to gain insights into the nature of metal production and its role in the major state apparatus. The study provides valuable insights into the development of technology and political economy in ancient Mesoamerica and offers a contribution to general anthropological theories of the emergence of social complexity. Cover 1 Title Page 3 Contents Page 5 List of Figures 7 Preface 9 References cited 10 Chapter 1 11 Introduction 11 Problem definition and research design issues 11 Methodology 11 Data collection and sampling 12 Significance 12 The approach: metallurgy as technology 13 Specific issues covered in this volume 14 Chapter organization and content 15 Chapter 2 17 Approaches to the study of technology and craft production 17 The definition of technology in archaeology: historical background 17 Theoretical approaches to technology and culture 18 The historical/particularist approach 18 Neo-Darwinian approaches 19 The evolutionary approach 19 Behavioral and economic factors 20 Methodological approaches to technology 21 Models derived from evolutionary theory 21 Applicability of evolutionary models 22 Implementing the Theory: The Study of Technological Processes 23 Chaîne opératoire: the concept and its application 23 Perspectives of the present study: technology, craft production and political economy 25 Approaches to the study of craft production in archaeology 26 The Organization of craft production: political ecology vs. political economy 26 Discussion 27 Chapter 3 29 Synopsis of preindustrial metallurgy as applied to Mesoamerica 29 Background: the emergence of metallurgy in the New World 29 Mining, metallurgy, and the evidence for West México 30 Native metals and ore minerals in West México 31 Prospecting and mining 32 Extractive metallurgy 35 Beneficiation 35 Pyrometallurgy 36 Alloy technology 38 Fabrication of artifacts 39 Cold and hot working 40 Lost-Wax Casting 44 Discussion 46 Chapter 4 48 Tarascan copper smelting at the zone of Itziparátzico: a case study 48 Socio-technological background: the Tarascan state 48 Metal and the political economy of the Tarascan state 48 Ore deposits and mining in the Tarascan territory 50 Patterns of distribution and consumption of metal 50 Smelting activities in the Tarascan territory 51 Physiographic background: the Santa Clara-Opopeo Region 53 Hydrology and climate 54 Soils and vegetation 54 History of land use 55 Itziparátzico: the research project 56 Preliminary work 58 Surface survey 58 Test pitting 61 Slag analysis 65 Sample selection, preparation and processing 66 Microscopic analyses of slag samples 67 Summary results of the microscopic analyses 67 Chemical composition analysis of the slag samples 68 Summary of the results of the chemical composition analysis 69 Summary description of Itziparátzico 65 Interpretation of the Scientific Analyses of the Slag Samples 70 Discussion 71 Chapter 5 73 Models of technological organization 73 The Study of Craft Production 73 Some notes on attached vs. independent craft production 74 Gradients of variation in Costin’s Scheme 74 Scale of production units 76 What was the scale of production at Itziparátzico? 77 Organization of metallurgical production: two models 78 Organizational Model I: local metallurgical industry 78 Archaeological correlates 78 An ethnohistorical example from south central Africa 79 Organizational Model II: mobilized local metallurgical industry 79 Archaeological correlates 80 The Kingdom of Benin: an ethnohistorical example from southwestern Nigeria 80 The organization of copper production in the Tarascan state: local versus mobilized industry 80 Ore deposits and mining 81 Smelting operations 81 Independent or supervised smeltings? 82 Final processing and manufacturing activities 83 Discussion 83 Scale of production units 76 What was the scale of production at Itziparátzico? 77 Organization of metallurgical production: two models 78 Organizational Model I: local metallurgical industry 78 Archaeological correlates 78 An ethnohistorical example from south central Africa 79 Organizational Model II: mobilized local metallurgical industry 79 Archaeological correlates 80 The Kingdom of Benin: an ethnohistorical example from southwestern Nigeria 80 The organization of copper production in the Tarascan state: local versus mobilized industry 80 Ore deposits and mining 81 Smelting operations 81 Independent or supervised smeltings? 82 Final processing and manufacturing activities 83 Discussion 83 Chapter 6 86 Conclusions, remarks and suggestions for future research 86 Evaluating the data from Itziparátzico 86 Archaeometallurgical materials 87 Archaeometallurgy 87 Theory of technology 87 The organization of copper metallurgy 88 Potential for future research in and around Itziparátzico 88 Technological and chronological implications 88 Comparative models for the use of wind power in preindustrial smelting 89 A brief overview of wind-powered smelting technology 89 Other pressing research needs: fuel production studies and ethnohistory 90 Potential for future research at the regional level 90 Colonial studies as a possible avenue to investigate Prehispanic technology 91 Conclusions 92 Bibliography 94 Chapter 6 86 Conclusions, remarks and suggestions for future research 86 Evaluating the data from Itziparátzico 86 Archaeometallurgical materials 87 Archaeometallurgy 87 Theory of technology 87 The organization of copper metallurgy 88 Potential for future research in and around Itziparátzico 88 Technological and chronological implications 88 Comparative models for the use of wind power in preindustrial smelting 89 A brief overview of wind-powered smelting technology 89 Other pressing research needs: fuel production studies and ethnohistory 90 Potential for future research at the regional level 90 Colonial studies as a possible avenue to investigate Prehispanic technology 91 Conclusions 92 Bibliography 94 Appendix A 109 IARP 2003-4: survey data 109 Appendix B 113 IARP 2003-4: Test pitting data 113 Appendix C 122 Slag analyses 122 Appendix C 122 Slag analyses 122 Appendix D 150 The rise of the theory of technology 150 V. Gordon Childe: Technology and Social Evolution 150 Problems in Childe’s Theory of Technology 152 Appendix D 150 The rise of the theory of technology 150 V. Gordon Childe: Technology and Social Evolution 150 Problems in Childe’s Theory of Technology 152 Archaeometallurgy,ancient copper smelting,Tarascan metallurgy,Mesoamerican archaeology,production processes,chaîne opératoire of copper "In the early sixteenth century much of West Mexico was under the rule of the Purhepecha Empire, known to Europeans as the Tarascan Kingdom of Michuacan. Both archaeological and ethnohistorical evidence indicate that during the Late Postclassic Period (A.D. 1350-1525) this political unit was the primary center for metallurgy and metalworking in Mesoamerica. This technology was largely based on copper and its alloys. 'Tarascan Copper Metallurgy: A multiapproach perspective' focuses on evidence recovered from the area surrounding Santa Clara del Cobre, a Tarascan community in Central Michoacan. This pioneer research required the employment of multiple strands of evidence, including archaeological survey and excavation, ethnoarchaeology, experimental replication, and archaeometallurgy. Intensive surface survey located concentrations of manufacturing byproducts (i.e. slag) on surface that represented potential production areas. Stratigraphic excavation and subsequent archaeometallurgical analysis of physical remains were combined with ethnohistorical and ethnoarchaeological data, as well as comparative analogy, to propose a model for prehispanic copper production among the Tarascans. The goal of this analysis was to gain insights into the nature of metal production and its role in the major state apparatus. The study provides valuable insights into the development of technology and political economy in ancient Mesoamerica and offers a contribution to general anthropological theories of the emergence of social complexity."--Publisher's description. "In the early sixteenth century much of West Mexico was under the rule of the Purhepecha Empire, known to Europeans as the Tarascan Kingdom of Michuacan. Both archaeological and ethnohistorical evidence indicate that during the Late Postclassic Period (A.D. 1350-1525) this political unit was the primary center for metallurgy and metalworking in Mesoamerica. This technology was largely based on copper and its alloys. 'Tarascan Copper Metallurgy: A multiapproach perspective' focuses on evidence recovered from the area surrounding Santa Clara del Cobre, a Tarascan community in Central Michoacan. This pioneer research required the employment of multiple strands of evidence, including archaeological survey and excavation, ethnoarchaeology, experimental replication, and archaeometallurgy. Intensive surface survey located concentrations of manufacturing byproducts (i.e. slag) on surface that represented potential production areas. Stratigraphic excavation and subsequent archaeometallurgical analysis of physical remains were combined with ethnohistorical and ethnoarchaeological data, as well as comparative analogy, to propose a model for prehispanic copper production among the Tarascans. The goal of this analysis was to gain insights into the nature of metal production and its role in the major state apparatus. The study provides valuable insights into the development of technology and political economy in ancient Mesoamerica and offers a contribution to general anthropological theories of the emergence of social complexity."--Page 4 de la couverture "In the early sixteenth century much of West Mexico was under the rule of the Purhépecha Empire, known to Europeans as the Tarascan Kingdom of Michuacan. Both archaeological and ethnohistorical evidence indicate that during the Late Postclassic Period (A.D. 1350-1525) this political unit was the primary center for metallurgy and metalworking in Mesoamerica. This technology was largely based on copper and its alloys. Tarascan Copper Metallurgy: A multiapproach perspective focuses on evidence recovered from the area surrounding Santa Clara del Cobre, a Tarascan community in Central Michoacan. This pioneer research required the employment of multiple strands of evidence, including archaeological survey and excavation, ethnoarchaeology, experimental replication, and archaeometallurgy. Intensive surface survey located concentrations of manufacturing byproducts (i.e. slag) on surface that represented potential production areas. Stratigraphic excavation and subsequent archaeometallurgical analysis of physical remains were combined with ethnohistorical and ethnoarchaeological data, as well as comparative analogy, to propose a model for prehispanic copper production among the Tarascans. The goal of this analysis was to gain insights into the nature of metal production and its role in the major state apparatus. The study provides valuable insights into the development of technology and political economy in ancient Mesoamerica and offers a contribution to general anthropological theories of the emergence of social complexity"--Publisher's description

In the early sixteenth century much of West México was under the rule of the Purhépecha Empire, known to Europeans as the Tarascan Kingdom of Michuacan. Both archaeological and ethnohistorical evidence indicate that during the Late Postclassic Period (A.D. 1350-1525) this political unit was the primary center for metallurgy and metalworking in Mesoamerica. This technology was largely based on copper and its alloys. The present study focuses on evidence recovered from the area surrounding Santa Clara del Cobre, a Tarascan community in Central Michoacán. This pioneering research required the employment of multiple strands of evidence, including archaeological survey and excavation, ethnoarchaeology, experimental replication, and archaeometallurgy. Intensive surface survey located concentrations of manufacturing byproducts (i.e. slag) on surface that represented potential production areas. Stratigraphic excavation and subsequent archaeometallurgical analysis of physical remains were combined with ethnohistorical and ethnoarchaeological data, as well as comparative analogy, to propose a model for prehispanic copper production among the Tarascans. The goal of this analysis was to gain insights into the nature of metal production and its role in the major state apparatus. The study provides valuable insights into the development of technology and political economy in ancient Mesoamerica and offers a contribution to general anthropological theories of the emergence of social complexity.