Copper Sources, Metal Production, and Metals Trade in Late Postclassic Mesoamerica

Hosler, Dorothy; MacFarlane, Andrew

doi:10.1126/science.273.5283.1819

Cited by 52 publications

(70 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…he results of research conducted in the late 1980's and early 1990's by Dorothy Hosler (1994;Hosler and MacFarlane, 1996) and more recently (Shugar, 2005(Shugar, , 2008 have provided valuable insights into the nature of Maya metallurgy during Postclassic and Spanish colonial times. he presence of several previously unknown copper artifact types at the site along with the results of recent chemical compositional and microstructural analysis greatly strengthen the argument for localized re-melting and casting of copper-base artifacts in the Maya Lowlands.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Over 42% of the entire assemblage of copper-base artifacts from Lamanai consists of bells, most of which are plain walled and either pyriform or globular in shape (Figure 3). A total of 23 of the 79 (29%) total bells recovered thus far from Lamanai have been analysed to date (Hosler, 1994;Hosler and MacFarlane, 1996;Shugar, 2005Shugar, , 2008Williams, 1990 he results of LOM analyses revealed that all bells exhibited a similar large-grained microstructure that is typical of slow cooling of molten metal. his strongly suggests that the bells from Lamanai were made using the lost-wax casting technique.…”

Section: Finished Copper Objectsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Maya Metallurgical Technology in Late Postclassic-Spanish Colonial Times: The View from Lamanai, Belize

Simmons¹,

Shugar²

2013

archeosciences

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Abstract:Recent archaeometallurgical studies at the ancient Maya site of Lamanai, Belize have begun to reveal the nature of copper metallurgy in the centuries just prior to and during Spanish contact in the Southern Maya Lowland Area. More copper artifacts have been recovered from controlled archaeological excavations at Lamanai than at any other site in the Southern Maya Lowland area. A total of 187 copper objects dating to the 12th through 16th centuries AD have been recovered; among these objects are ingots or pigs, blanks, prills and a substantial number of mis-cast objects, many of which are bells. he archaeological contexts in which copper bells, axes, needles, ish hooks, rings, and clothing ornaments have been recovered will be summarised. Forming technologies used in the creation of Maya copper artifacts as well as their chemical compositions were studied using scanning electron microscopy and optical light microscopy. he results of chemical compositional and microstructural analyses will be presented and discussed in the contexts of larger social and economic spheres that were part of the Maya world just before and during Spanish contact in Belize. Résumé : De récentes études concernant l'archéométallurgie sur l'ancien site maya de Lamanai, Belize ont permis de révéler la nature de la métallurgie du cuivre des siècles avant et pendant la période de contact espagnol dans la zone sud des basses terres mayas. Le nombre d'artéfacts en cuivre découverts lors de fouilles archéologiques contrôlées à Lamanai dépasse tout ce qui a été mis au jour dans les autres sites localisés dans la même région. Un total de 187 objets en cuivre datant des

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Finished Copper Objectsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Maya Metallurgical Technology in Late Postclassic-Spanish Colonial Times: The View from Lamanai, Belize

Simmons¹,

Shugar²

2013

archeosciences

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“…El manejo del color mediante el dorado por oxidación presentó algunas diferencias entre los trabajadores metalúrgicos de la zona; en Panamá parece que la película superficial de óxido cuproso era disuelta por el ácido de carbonato de amonio presente en la orina (16) (29); del Ecuador aprendió el martillado y posterior recocido de los metales, y del área intermedia, el método de la cera perdida. En esta región abunda el cobre en forma de calcopirita, aunque también se presenta como malaquita, azurita y bornita, y el arsénico como arsenopirita; también hay yacimientos importantes de plata junto con latón, zinc y oro (30). De especial interés para el tema de este trabajo es la ausencia casi total de estaño, lo que impidió que se manufacturaran grandes cantidades de objetos de bronce estañoso.…”

Section: Característicasunclassified

Posibles efectos en la salud asociados con la metalurgia precolombina.

Idrovo¹

2005

biomedica

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En el Viejo Mundo algunos investigadores piensan que los efectos adversos en la salud relacionados con la exposición a arsénico influyeron para que se cambiara de usar aleaciones de cobre con arsénico a otras menos tóxicas. En este artículo se evalúa esta hipótesis para las tres grandes tradiciones metalúrgicas precolombinas: Andes centrales, área intermedia y occidente mexicano. Los artefactos metálicos revelan que las concentraciones de arsénico en los Andes centrales fueron similares a las del Viejo Mundo (0,5% a 1%), en el área intermedia los valores eran muy inferiores, mientras en el occidente mexicano fueron muy superiores (7% a 25%). En los Andes centrales se observó inicialmente el uso de bronce arsenical, pero rápidamente se conocieron las aleaciones de cobre-estaño; estas últimas fueron cada vez más preferidas y difundidas por todo el imperio inca. Las evidencias, osteológicas y en objetos artísticos, de amputaciones de los pies entre individuos moches de los Andes centrales apoyan la idea de la presencia de la "enfermedad del pie negro" entre las poblaciones precolombinas. En conclusión, es posible que los efectos nocivos del arsénico se hayan observado en el Nuevo Mundo, y favorecido el cambio hacia aleaciones menos tóxicas. Se requieren nuevos estudios específicos para verificar esta hipótesis.Palabras clave: arsénico, arqueología, toxicología, contaminación del aire, transición de la salud. Possible health effects associated with Pre-Columbian metallurgyIn the Old World, several researchers have indicated that adverse health effects were associated with exposure to arsenic, and that this influenced a change in the use of copper-arsenic alloys to others less toxic. This hypothesis was evaluated for three Pre-Columbian metallurgy traditions: Central Andes, Intermediate Area, and West Mexico. The metal artifacts from the Central Andes showed arsenic concentrations similar to those in the Old World (0.5%-1.0%). In the Intermediate Area the values were smallest; however, in West Mexico the arsenic content was very high (7%-25%). In Central Andes arsenical bronze was used initially, but copper-tin alloys when introduced were preferred and distributed throughout the Inca Empire. Osteological and artistic evidences of foot amputations among Moche individuals from Central Andes support the presence of "black foot disease" (a condition associated with arsenic poisoning) among Pre-Columbian populations. In conclusion, the adverse effects of arsenic have been observed in the New World, and that these effects promoted a change toward the use of less toxic alloys.

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“…Data for the Arteaga Complex and J-K arc assemblages are from Centeno- Garcia et al (1993), for the Zacatecas Formation from Centeno- Garcia and Silva-Romo (1997), for the Tejupilco metamorphic suite from Elias-Herrera et al (2003), for the Arperos Formation from Freydier et al (1996), and for IODP-DSDP 487-488 xi sediments from Verma (2000). Cumming et al (1979) and Hosler and Macfarlane (1996). The Pb growth curve of Stacey and Kramers (1975) Zartman and Doe (1981); the lead growth curve (SK) is from Stacey and Kramers (1975) Hemming and McLennan, 2001), and MORB-EPR (White et al, 1987) are also shown.…”

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confidence: 99%

“…Lead growth curve from Stacey and Kramers (1975) (Martiny et al, 1997;Martiny et al, 2000), and the Oaxaca (Martiny et al, 2000) terranes; the Texas "Grenville" (Smith et al, 1997;Cameron and Ward, 1998); the Santa Marta and Garzon Massifs (Colombia) and the Guichicovi Complex ; and the Olmos and Maranon Complexes (northern Peru) . SK represents the Stacey and Kramers (1975) Miranda-Gasca (1995), Hosler and Macfarlane (1996), and the present study; for Toluca metamorphic rocks from Martinez-Serrano et al (2004); for MORB-EPR from White et al (1987); for Pacific Ocean sediments (POS) from Hemming and McLennan (2001). The average upper crustal (UC) and orogene (OR) growth curves are from Zartman and Doe (1981); the lead growth curve (SK) is from Stacey and Kramers (1975) .5.…”

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confidence: 99%

Isotopic Studies of the Guerrero Composite Terrane, West-Central Mexico: Implications for Provenance of Crustal Rocks and Genesis of Ore Metals

Potra¹

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Copper Sources, Metal Production, and Metals Trade in Late Postclassic Mesoamerica

Cited by 52 publications

References 8 publications

Maya Metallurgical Technology in Late Postclassic-Spanish Colonial Times: The View from Lamanai, Belize

Maya Metallurgical Technology in Late Postclassic-Spanish Colonial Times: The View from Lamanai, Belize

Posibles efectos en la salud asociados con la metalurgia precolombina.

Isotopic Studies of the Guerrero Composite Terrane, West-Central Mexico: Implications for Provenance of Crustal Rocks and Genesis of Ore Metals

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