Latest news with #DiegoMatadamasGomora
CNN
15-05-2025
- Science
- CNN
Hundreds of obsidian artifacts show how the Aztec Empire evolved
Hundreds of obsidian artifacts have revealed where the Aztecs acquired the volcanic glass they used for tools, ornamental pieces or religious objects centuries ago — and their vast trade networks included their rivals. A new study of the 788 pieces is the largest sample of obsidian artifacts ever analyzed for Tenochtitlán, which served as the capital city of the Aztecs — also known as the Mexica people — according to the authors, who reported their findings Monday in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Using portable X-ray fluorescence, a nondestructive way to identify geochemical fingerprints, the researchers confirmed that the Mexicas were partial to a particular green and golden obsidian to produce items for rituals. But the community also relied on everyday objects made of different kinds of obsidian, like blades for cutting and scraping, and thus had to establish a complex economic system that encouraged long-distance trade with rival societies beyond their political borders, the researchers said. 'Although the Mexicas preferred green obsidian, the high diversity of obsidian types, mainly in the form of non-ritual artifacts, suggests that obsidian tools from multiple sources reached the capital of the Empire through market,' said lead study author Diego Matadamas-Gomora, a doctoral candidate of anthropology at Tulane University in New Orleans, in a statement. 'By studying where this material came from, we can explore the movement of goods across Mesoamerica.' The research team was surprised by the variety of obsidian types found in the ancient capital, which surpasses that found at other sites in Mesoamerica. The discovery also sheds light on how the Aztec society evolved — introducing more standardized religion and control before the empire fell in 1520 — by showing how obsidian use changed over time. The Aztecs didn't discover obsidian. It was already the most common raw material in Mesoamerica when they arrived in the Basin of Mexico in 1200, and the use of obsidian on a broad scale dates to the Archaic period, which was from 6000 to 2000 BC for Mesoamerican societies, Matadamas-Gomora said. Obsidian originated from a geological formation known as the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt, spanning 621 miles (1,000 kilometers) from the west to east coasts in central Mexico, the study authors noted. Craftspeople who had experience working with obsidian could shape the volcanic glass into incredibly sharp instruments, according to the study authors. The material's natural reflectivity and luster also enabled the Mexica people to turn obsidian into highly polished ornaments and religious objects. The artifacts examined in the study were uncovered during excavations that took place over decades from the main Aztec temple of Tenochtitlán, called the Templo Mayor, in what is now Mexico City. Nearly 90% of these obsidian artifacts came from the Sierra de Pachuca mountain range, the study found. Centuries ago, the Mexicas buried offerings of miniature weapons and jewelry within this sacred heart of the city. They considered green obsidian the most valuable of all obsidian types due to its hue and called it the 'obsidian of the masters,' Matadamas-Gomora said. The green obsidian was also thought to have a symbolic connection to Tollan, a mythical city where the god Quetzalcoatl lived, which was believed to be the ancestral origin of Mexico's civilizations. 'Most obsidians are naturally gray or black,' Matadamas-Gomora said in an email. 'Green obsidian from Sierra de Pachuca is unique and related to this specific geological source. The Aztecs recognized and valued that. In addition, the geological formation processes at the Sierra de Pachuca allowed the creation of high-quality obsidian at this source, making it ideal for producing complex ornaments.' The study highlights how important nondestructive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry has become to archaeology, said John Millhauser, associate professor of sociology and anthropology at North Carolina State University. Millhauser was not involved in the new study. 'Without it, we wouldn't be able to study the histories of these artifacts in such detail,' Millhauser said. 'Though the technique has only been widely used for about two decades, each new application adds a crucial piece to the puzzle of the ancient Mexica economy.' The other 10% of the artifacts were made using obsidian from seven other locations, including Otumba, Tulancingo, Ucareo and El Paraíso. While Otumba and Sierra de Pachuca were both controlled by the Aztec Empire, places like Ucareo were beyond the empire's political borders, suggesting that the Mexicas did not restrict the flow of obsidian tools from rival regions to local markets, Matadamas-Gomora said. Additionally, the tools could be found at rural as well as urban markets. The fact that people living in the heart of the capital relied on the same obsidian materials as villagers and farmers in the surrounding countryside was one of the most striking findings of the study, said Millhauser, who also directs the graduate program in anthropology at North Carolina State University. 'Considering that hundreds of thousands of people lived in the region, the scale of the obsidian supply and distribution network is extraordinary,' he said. 'It's a powerful reminder of how robust and far-reaching the economy of central Mexico was 500 years ago, with commodities like obsidian circulating widely to meet the needs of communities across the region.' Early in the Aztecs' history, obsidian for ritual and everyday objects came from limited sources. But after the Aztec Empire defeated the Tepanecs from Azcapotzalco and began imperial expansion in 1430, obsidian types increased, showing how the Mexicas expanded their commercial networks, Matadamas-Gomora said. 'Later, between (1481 and 1486), the Mexicas were ruled by a problematic tlatoani (Aztec ruler), Tízoc, who destabilized the Empire's dominance,' he said in an email. 'We see in this period that obsidian diversity was reduced to only two sources, Sierra de Pachuca and Otumba, which were historically the primary supply sources for the Mexica. After 1486, when a new ruler came to power, obsidian diversity increased again to seven sources. Therefore, our diachronic perspective on obsidian consumption revealed that the availability of this raw material was related directly to the transformations of the capital city.' Next, to better understand the ancient obsidian trade, Matadamas-Gomora wants to uncover how obsidian moved across Mesoamerica, including other archaeological sites, and arrived at Tenochtitlán. 'Archaeologists still know surprisingly little about Tenōchtitlan, the Mexica capital, largely because it lies beneath the modern sprawl of Mexico City,' Millhauser said in an email. 'Every new study offers fresh insights into the lives of its ancient residents.'
CNN
15-05-2025
- Science
- CNN
Hundreds of obsidian artifacts show how the Aztec Empire evolved
Hundreds of obsidian artifacts have revealed where the Aztecs acquired the volcanic glass they used for tools, ornamental pieces or religious objects centuries ago — and their vast trade networks included their rivals. A new study of the 788 pieces is the largest sample of obsidian artifacts ever analyzed for Tenochtitlán, which served as the capital city of the Aztecs — also known as the Mexica people — according to the authors, who reported their findings Monday in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Using portable X-ray fluorescence, a nondestructive way to identify geochemical fingerprints, the researchers confirmed that the Mexicas were partial to a particular green and golden obsidian to produce items for rituals. But the community also relied on everyday objects made of different kinds of obsidian, like blades for cutting and scraping, and thus had to establish a complex economic system that encouraged long-distance trade with rival societies beyond their political borders, the researchers said. 'Although the Mexicas preferred green obsidian, the high diversity of obsidian types, mainly in the form of non-ritual artifacts, suggests that obsidian tools from multiple sources reached the capital of the Empire through market,' said lead study author Diego Matadamas-Gomora, a doctoral candidate of anthropology at Tulane University in New Orleans, in a statement. 'By studying where this material came from, we can explore the movement of goods across Mesoamerica.' The research team was surprised by the variety of obsidian types found in the ancient capital, which surpasses that found at other sites in Mesoamerica. The discovery also sheds light on how the Aztec society evolved — introducing more standardized religion and control before the empire fell in 1520 — by showing how obsidian use changed over time. The Aztecs didn't discover obsidian. It was already the most common raw material in Mesoamerica when they arrived in the Basin of Mexico in 1200, and the use of obsidian on a broad scale dates to the Archaic period, which was from 6000 to 2000 BC for Mesoamerican societies, Matadamas-Gomora said. Obsidian originated from a geological formation known as the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt, spanning 621 miles (1,000 kilometers) from the west to east coasts in central Mexico, the study authors noted. Craftspeople who had experience working with obsidian could shape the volcanic glass into incredibly sharp instruments, according to the study authors. The material's natural reflectivity and luster also enabled the Mexica people to turn obsidian into highly polished ornaments and religious objects. The artifacts examined in the study were uncovered during excavations that took place over decades from the main Aztec temple of Tenochtitlán, called the Templo Mayor, in what is now Mexico City. Nearly 90% of these obsidian artifacts came from the Sierra de Pachuca mountain range, the study found. Centuries ago, the Mexicas buried offerings of miniature weapons and jewelry within this sacred heart of the city. They considered green obsidian the most valuable of all obsidian types due to its hue and called it the 'obsidian of the masters,' Matadamas-Gomora said. The green obsidian was also thought to have a symbolic connection to Tollan, a mythical city where the god Quetzalcoatl lived, which was believed to be the ancestral origin of Mexico's civilizations. 'Most obsidians are naturally gray or black,' Matadamas-Gomora said in an email. 'Green obsidian from Sierra de Pachuca is unique and related to this specific geological source. The Aztecs recognized and valued that. In addition, the geological formation processes at the Sierra de Pachuca allowed the creation of high-quality obsidian at this source, making it ideal for producing complex ornaments.' The study highlights how important nondestructive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry has become to archaeology, said John Millhauser, associate professor of sociology and anthropology at North Carolina State University. Millhauser was not involved in the new study. 'Without it, we wouldn't be able to study the histories of these artifacts in such detail,' Millhauser said. 'Though the technique has only been widely used for about two decades, each new application adds a crucial piece to the puzzle of the ancient Mexica economy.' The other 10% of the artifacts were made using obsidian from seven other locations, including Otumba, Tulancingo, Ucareo and El Paraíso. While Otumba and Sierra de Pachuca were both controlled by the Aztec Empire, places like Ucareo were beyond the empire's political borders, suggesting that the Mexicas did not restrict the flow of obsidian tools from rival regions to local markets, Matadamas-Gomora said. Additionally, the tools could be found at rural as well as urban markets. The fact that people living in the heart of the capital relied on the same obsidian materials as villagers and farmers in the surrounding countryside was one of the most striking findings of the study, said Millhauser, who also directs the graduate program in anthropology at North Carolina State University. 'Considering that hundreds of thousands of people lived in the region, the scale of the obsidian supply and distribution network is extraordinary,' he said. 'It's a powerful reminder of how robust and far-reaching the economy of central Mexico was 500 years ago, with commodities like obsidian circulating widely to meet the needs of communities across the region.' Early in the Aztecs' history, obsidian for ritual and everyday objects came from limited sources. But after the Aztec Empire defeated the Tepanecs from Azcapotzalco and began imperial expansion in 1430, obsidian types increased, showing how the Mexicas expanded their commercial networks, Matadamas-Gomora said. 'Later, between (1481 and 1486), the Mexicas were ruled by a problematic tlatoani (Aztec ruler), Tízoc, who destabilized the Empire's dominance,' he said in an email. 'We see in this period that obsidian diversity was reduced to only two sources, Sierra de Pachuca and Otumba, which were historically the primary supply sources for the Mexica. After 1486, when a new ruler came to power, obsidian diversity increased again to seven sources. Therefore, our diachronic perspective on obsidian consumption revealed that the availability of this raw material was related directly to the transformations of the capital city.' Next, to better understand the ancient obsidian trade, Matadamas-Gomora wants to uncover how obsidian moved across Mesoamerica, including other archaeological sites, and arrived at Tenochtitlán. 'Archaeologists still know surprisingly little about Tenōchtitlan, the Mexica capital, largely because it lies beneath the modern sprawl of Mexico City,' Millhauser said in an email. 'Every new study offers fresh insights into the lives of its ancient residents.'
CNN
15-05-2025
- Science
- CNN
Hundreds of obsidian artifacts show how the Aztec Empire evolved
Hundreds of obsidian artifacts have revealed where the Aztecs acquired the volcanic glass they used for tools, ornamental pieces or religious objects centuries ago — and their vast trade networks included their rivals. A new study of the 788 pieces is the largest sample of obsidian artifacts ever analyzed for Tenochtitlán, which served as the capital city of the Aztecs — also known as the Mexica people — according to the authors, who reported their findings Monday in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Using portable X-ray fluorescence, a nondestructive way to identify geochemical fingerprints, the researchers confirmed that the Mexicas were partial to a particular green and golden obsidian to produce items for rituals. But the community also relied on everyday objects made of different kinds of obsidian, like blades for cutting and scraping, and thus had to establish a complex economic system that encouraged long-distance trade with rival societies beyond their political borders, the researchers said. 'Although the Mexicas preferred green obsidian, the high diversity of obsidian types, mainly in the form of non-ritual artifacts, suggests that obsidian tools from multiple sources reached the capital of the Empire through market,' said lead study author Diego Matadamas-Gomora, a doctoral candidate of anthropology at Tulane University in New Orleans, in a statement. 'By studying where this material came from, we can explore the movement of goods across Mesoamerica.' The research team was surprised by the variety of obsidian types found in the ancient capital, which surpasses that found at other sites in Mesoamerica. The discovery also sheds light on how the Aztec society evolved — introducing more standardized religion and control before the empire fell in 1520 — by showing how obsidian use changed over time. The Aztecs didn't discover obsidian. It was already the most common raw material in Mesoamerica when they arrived in the Basin of Mexico in 1200, and the use of obsidian on a broad scale dates to the Archaic period, which was from 6000 to 2000 BC for Mesoamerican societies, Matadamas-Gomora said. Obsidian originated from a geological formation known as the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt, spanning 621 miles (1,000 kilometers) from the west to east coasts in central Mexico, the study authors noted. Craftspeople who had experience working with obsidian could shape the volcanic glass into incredibly sharp instruments, according to the study authors. The material's natural reflectivity and luster also enabled the Mexica people to turn obsidian into highly polished ornaments and religious objects. The artifacts examined in the study were uncovered during excavations that took place over decades from the main Aztec temple of Tenochtitlán, called the Templo Mayor, in what is now Mexico City. Nearly 90% of these obsidian artifacts came from the Sierra de Pachuca mountain range, the study found. Centuries ago, the Mexicas buried offerings of miniature weapons and jewelry within this sacred heart of the city. They considered green obsidian the most valuable of all obsidian types due to its hue and called it the 'obsidian of the masters,' Matadamas-Gomora said. The green obsidian was also thought to have a symbolic connection to Tollan, a mythical city where the god Quetzalcoatl lived, which was believed to be the ancestral origin of Mexico's civilizations. 'Most obsidians are naturally gray or black,' Matadamas-Gomora said in an email. 'Green obsidian from Sierra de Pachuca is unique and related to this specific geological source. The Aztecs recognized and valued that. In addition, the geological formation processes at the Sierra de Pachuca allowed the creation of high-quality obsidian at this source, making it ideal for producing complex ornaments.' The study highlights how important nondestructive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry has become to archaeology, said John Millhauser, associate professor of sociology and anthropology at North Carolina State University. Millhauser was not involved in the new study. 'Without it, we wouldn't be able to study the histories of these artifacts in such detail,' Millhauser said. 'Though the technique has only been widely used for about two decades, each new application adds a crucial piece to the puzzle of the ancient Mexica economy.' The other 10% of the artifacts were made using obsidian from seven other locations, including Otumba, Tulancingo, Ucareo and El Paraíso. While Otumba and Sierra de Pachuca were both controlled by the Aztec Empire, places like Ucareo were beyond the empire's political borders, suggesting that the Mexicas did not restrict the flow of obsidian tools from rival regions to local markets, Matadamas-Gomora said. Additionally, the tools could be found at rural as well as urban markets. The fact that people living in the heart of the capital relied on the same obsidian materials as villagers and farmers in the surrounding countryside was one of the most striking findings of the study, said Millhauser, who also directs the graduate program in anthropology at North Carolina State University. 'Considering that hundreds of thousands of people lived in the region, the scale of the obsidian supply and distribution network is extraordinary,' he said. 'It's a powerful reminder of how robust and far-reaching the economy of central Mexico was 500 years ago, with commodities like obsidian circulating widely to meet the needs of communities across the region.' Early in the Aztecs' history, obsidian for ritual and everyday objects came from limited sources. But after the Aztec Empire defeated the Tepanecs from Azcapotzalco and began imperial expansion in 1430, obsidian types increased, showing how the Mexicas expanded their commercial networks, Matadamas-Gomora said. 'Later, between (1481 and 1486), the Mexicas were ruled by a problematic tlatoani (Aztec ruler), Tízoc, who destabilized the Empire's dominance,' he said in an email. 'We see in this period that obsidian diversity was reduced to only two sources, Sierra de Pachuca and Otumba, which were historically the primary supply sources for the Mexica. After 1486, when a new ruler came to power, obsidian diversity increased again to seven sources. Therefore, our diachronic perspective on obsidian consumption revealed that the availability of this raw material was related directly to the transformations of the capital city.' Next, to better understand the ancient obsidian trade, Matadamas-Gomora wants to uncover how obsidian moved across Mesoamerica, including other archaeological sites, and arrived at Tenochtitlán. 'Archaeologists still know surprisingly little about Tenōchtitlan, the Mexica capital, largely because it lies beneath the modern sprawl of Mexico City,' Millhauser said in an email. 'Every new study offers fresh insights into the lives of its ancient residents.'
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Item found among human skulls sheds new light on ancient civilisation: ‘Only one in the world'
Mystery surrounds an ancient 'scythe' or 'blade' discovered at a ceremonial offering site between two human skulls. The dark-green tool is one of almost 800 important artefacts from the Aztec Empire that archaeologist Diego Matadamas-Gomora has studied, and yet it's this one that stands out as unique. While associations between the scythe and the Grim Reaper gathering the souls of the dead date back to the fourteenth century in Europe, it's believed the object found inside Templo Mayor in modern-day Mexico City developed independently, despite its similar shape. 'Because it was located very close to these human skulls, it's probably something related to the dead or the underworld,' Matadamas-Gomora told Yahoo News Australia. 'There's only one in the entire world so far, and I'm very intrigued. It's beautiful and complex, and making it required a lot of specialisation. This artefact is not sharp, you can't cut anything with it, so it's a symbol. We call it a scythe for comparison, but we don't know what it is.' An indentation at the end of the 10cm-long miniature indicates the scythe once fastened onto a handle that's long since disappeared. It was crafted from material collected in the city of Pachuca, around 90km north of the city. Related: Lost Maya world discovered in 'race against time' to save ancient ruins from growing threat Tulane University PhD candidate Matadamas-Gomora led an international team that included Mexico's Templo Mayor Project and the National Institute of Anthropology and History. Together they investigated changes in Aztec artefacts between 1375 and 1520 CE, including how the strengthening of the empire in 1430 CE impacted what types of materials they used. The team focused exclusively on obsidian, a type of volcanic glass that was crafted into blades, jewellery and miniature objects that were placed inside graves and offering sites. 'This is the first compositional analysis of such a large sample of artefacts. In previous studies, scholars studied no more than 10 or 15, but we examined 788,' Matadamas-Gomora said. 'First of all, we are providing a large amount of quantitative data for future analysis. And second, we are exploring the use and consumption of obsidian by the Mexicas [the Aztec people] in their capital city, which was the most important city in Mesoamerica in the 16th century, just before the arrival of the Spaniards.' Ancient object used in 12,000 year old curse unearthed inside remote cave Unassuming discovery in rock rewrites understanding of life on Earth Fossil found near popular camping spot sparks delight Obsidian comes in a multitude of colours and strengths. By understanding where each sample was sourced from using a portable X-ray fluorescence machine, the researchers built a picture of the influence and power of the empire, and where its political alliances and economic trade routes stretched. 'We can explore different questions about how the Aztecs were organised within their city, but also in relation to the entirety of Mesoamerica. But not only in their territory, also beyond their political boundaries,' Matadamas-Gomora said. As the Mexica consolidated power, the researchers were surprised to learn the rulers didn't maintain a monopoly over prized green Sierra de Pachuca obsidian and instead continued to trade with other cities. Using eight different types of obsidian — more than any other city — they created objects divided into two main categories — ritual and everyday. The former were often miniature projectile points, sceptres, and clubs that were used to decorate effigies deposited into offering sites. 'The elements combined together to create a representation of a god. For example, if that god was holding a sceptre, it would be made of obsidian,' Matadamas-Gomora said. 'We found the symbol of the God of Wind, which is very common in the offerings. We also found funerary vessels, one of them very important, because it contained the ashes of a human, potentially an early Aztec ruler.' While items inside the offering sites had been placed with intention, the everyday tools found around their periphery were likely discarded or dropped. 'They were probably deposited during the labour construction by the same people, but used for completely different purposes than the rituals,' Matadamas-Gomora said. The research was published in the journal PNAS. Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? 🐊🦘😳 Get our new newsletter showcasing the week's best stories.
