Altica's Obsidian Industries and Their Place in Early–middle Formative Obsidian Exploitation in Central Mexico

Abstract

Survey and excavation conducted by Stoner and Nichols (2019) at Altica, located in the Basin of Mexico, recovered nearly 29,000 pieces of obsidian, most of which apparently came from the nearby Otumba source. Formal classification followed by attribute analysis revealed a number of distinct lithic industries represented in the collection, although most are represented by finished objects that do not appear to have been produced on site. Most of the material consists of flakes probably used as unmodified, informal tools and produced on expedient cores consisting of some nodules but mostly percussion blades, spent cores, and other artifacts recycled as secondary cores. I propose that Altica acquired its obsidian from workshops possibly located in an area where they apparently existed in later times and may have during the Early–Middle Formative, as well. Virtually all of the obsidian in the collection appears to have been used for domestic or subsistence activities and was not involved in production or exchange systems believed to have existed at that time. Two unusual caches containing macronodules provide some evidence to the contrary, suggesting that Altica may have been a transshipment center.

Before Teotihuacan—altica, Exchange, Interactions, and the Origins of Complex Society in the Northeast Basin of Mexico

“…Contrary to previous interpretations, Healan's (2019) analysis shows that the concentration of obsidian at Altica is mostly from expedient flake tool production, not prismatic blade or blade-core manufacturing and that such flakes were for local consumption, not export. In fact, many of the prismatic blades found at Altica were manufactured elsewhere during the Early and Middle Formative.…”

“…Altica villagers got most of their obsidian second hand, as it had been reduced elsewhere, probably near the source. Perhaps they exported some obsidian as raw nodules, as we found evidence of caching raw cobbles in one cylindrical pit (Healan 2019; Johnson and Hirth 2019). Altica residents also imported finished prismatic blades made of the local Otumba obsidian manufactured by specialists located elsewhere and some obsidian from Pachuca and Paredón.…”

“…The Teotihuacan Valley is an important natural corridor eastward from the Basin of Mexico. Excavations at the site and analyses show that Altica's involvement in prestige goods exchanges was more extensive than previously realized (Alex et al 2012; Healan 2019; Johnson and Hirth 2019; McClung de Tapia et al 2019; Stoner and Nichols 2019a, 2019b; Stoner et al 2015).…”

“…Two caches of macronodules found at Altica, however, also suggests Altica perhaps played some role in the exchange of obsidian raw material (Healan 2019). In addition to prismatic blades, some percussion blades, and bifaces, including some of non-local obsidian, Altica imported other types of goods from elsewhere in the Basin of Mexico and beyond.…”

Pottery Trade and the Formation of Early and Middle Formative Style Horizons as Seen From Central Mexico

“…It therefore follows that it might have been a center of ceramic innovation, whether through foreign adoption or local invention, and disseminated this knowledge at least partly through regional pottery exchange. Tlapacoya might have traded ceramics to Altica in order to secure access to Otumba obsidian nodules (Healan 2019; Johnson and Hirth 2019).…”