Neutrons, Markets, Cities, and Empires: A 1000-Year Perspective on Ceramic Production and Distribution in the Postclassic Basin of Mexico

Ceramics and the Spanish Conquest

“…Also chemical studies for identifying clay composition, such as neutron activation analysis, have been able to recognize the provenance of some ceramics, and therefore to trace their exchange within the valley. is kind of study has proliferated in the last years, and for this reason, at present our knowledge of the ceramics of that region has a strong emphasis on aspects such as distribution, trade and market systems (e.g., Charlton et al 2008;Garraty 2006aGarraty , 2006bHodge and Minc 1990;Hodge et al 1992;Minc et al 1994;Nichols et al 2002). In addition, rescue excavations in Mexico City and its surroundings have recovered large collections of ceramic fragments from a variety of contexts (e.g., Cervantes and Fournier 1995;Cervantes et al 2007;González 1988;Matos Moctezuma 1982;Noguera 1934Noguera , 1969Parsons 1966;Sejourné 1970Sejourné , 1983Vega 1975).…”

“…ere were also other settlements specialized in ceramics, although at present they are not identi ed. at is, studies of the composition of late pre-colonial vessels' clay, such as neutron activation and petrographic analysis, have recognized several major clay composition groups proceeding from di erent areas around the lakes (Chalco, Texcoco, Teotihuacan Valley, Cuauhtitlan Tenochtitlan, Xochimilco and Tepetlaoztoc), indicating that ceramics were manufactured at least in those regions (Garraty 2006a:111;Hodge et al 1992Hodge et al , 1993Minc et al 1994;Ne et al 2000;Nichols et al 2002). Fine variations in vessels' clay suggest in addition the existence of several places of production within those regions, although they have not been located yet.…”

“…e empire brought various economic changes in central Mexico, which resounded also in the ceramic industry. Specialists using large collections of ceramics from extensive regional surveys and analytical methods for identifying vessels' provenance, agree that ceramics were widely traded within the valley of Mexico during the Early Aztec period but the rise of the empire brought important changes in their production and exchange (Garraty 2006b;Hodge and Minc 1990;Minc et al 1994;Nichols et al 2002). ey identify that before the rise of the empire potters (or their intermediaries) traded their products in the several markets of their altepetl or associated centers, but only seldom in the markets of other places.…”

“…In this part, the center of attention is ceramic-making in the valley of Mexico, although the situation in neighboring valleys is also brie y explored. e main reason is that more research has been done in the valley of Mexico (e.g., Blanton and Parsons 1971;Cervantes and Fournier 1995;Cervantes et al 2007;Charlton et al 2008;Garraty 2006aGarraty , 2006bGonzález 1988;Hodge and Minc 1990;Hodge et al 1992;Matos Moctezuma 1982;Minc et al 1994;Nichols et al 2002;Noguera 1934Noguera , 1969Parsons 1966;Parsons et al 1982Parsons et al , 2008Sanders et al 1970Sanders et al , 1979Sejourné 1970Sejourné , 1983Vega 1975;Whalen and Parsons 1982). e study of indigenous ceramics in the early colonial period is almost completely focused in that region because there have been several studies of the material culture of early colonial contexts (e.g., Charlton et al 1995Charlton et al , 2005Charlton et al , 2007Fournier 1990Fournier , 1997Matos Moctezuma 1982Rodríguez Alegría 2005); while little archeological research has been conducted and published in other valleys of central Mexico (exceptions are Müller 1973; and the unpublished INAH reports: Charlton et al 1987;Hernández 2000aHernández , 2000bHernández and Reynoso 1999).…”

“…In particular in the valley of Mexico there has been systematic and extensive documentation of the style, form and temporal allocation of ceramics (Blanton and Parsons 1971;Parsons et al 2008;Parsons et al 1982;Sanders et al 1970Sanders et al , 1979. Also technological methods, such as compositional analysis, have been conducted in order to identify the distribution and exchange of those objects (e.g., Charlton et al 2008;Garraty 2006aGarraty , 2006bHodge and Minc 1990;Hodge et al 1992;Minc et al 1994;Nichols et al 2002). e investigation of the early colonial period is also based on archeological ceramics but much fewer studies have been carried out.…”