Obsidian Production and the State in Teotihuacan

Bibliographic Data

ID2571325
AuthorsMichael W Spence (0000-0003-2180-6436, Western University, corresponding author)
Year1981
Volume46
Issue4
Pages769-788
Publication date1981-10-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueAmerican Antiquity (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0002-7316 • E-ISSN: 2325-5064
PublisherCambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.2307/280105
OpenAlexW2327298951
LanguageEN
Citations received79
References cited16

Obsidian production was a major component of Classic period Teotihuacan's economy, with hundreds of workshops producing cores and blades of green obsidian and bifaces of grey obsidian for distribution throughout central Mexico. Although green obsidian was evidently obtained through a state network, grey obsidian procurement was conducted independently by most workshop groups. Most production took place in residential areas beyond the major public structures of the city, but some of these craftsmen also worked periodically within the public precincts where their output would have been at the disposition of state officials. The burden of this levy fell primarily upon those sectors of the industry that were most dependent on the state for support and most involved in external distribution. However, despite this evidence of an important administered element in the Teotihuacan obsidian industry, the workshops apparently maintained their independence from the state. This may have been due to their organization in strong social units that had a long history of independent existence, and to their self-reliance in procurement and distribution during the earlier stages of the industry's development

Archaeology · Business · Distribution (mathematics) · Economics · Economy · Geography · Independence (probability theory) · Procurement · Production (economics) · State (computer science) · Archaeology and ancient environmental studies · Latin American history and culture · Marketing

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