Production Spheres of Green Stones Objects from Tenochtitlan’s Great Temple Surrounding Structures

Abstract

More than 600 lapidary objects elaborated from different green stones have been recovered at Tenochtitlan’s Sacred Precinct adjacent structures. These objects were used to legitimize the power of the Mexica Empire and to express its scope. This paper presents the results of several archaeometric studies; these included the employment of experimental archaeology and the analysis of manufacture techniques and processes through an optic microscope (MO) and with scanning electron microscopy (MEB). In the same way, UV Light Fluorescence with Long Wave (365nm) and Short Wave (250nm), X-ray Fluorescence (XRF), and Near-Infrared Spectrometry, were used to study the provenance of the rocks and minerals. Through the aforementioned analysis, we tried to determine if the type, manufacture, and provenance of the objects correspond to any style and/or technological tradition from Tenochtitlan or elsewhere; as well as the possibility of identifying one or several spheres of production and consumption of these sacred goods. The results obtained allowed us to propose, among other things, a differential production and consumption of these luxury goods.