Obsidian Reflections Symbolic Dimensions of Obsidian in Mesoamerica edited by Marc N. Levine and David M. Carballo UNIVERSITY PRESS OF COLORADO Boulder © 2014 by University Press of Colorado Published by University Press of Colorado 5589 Arapahoe Avenue, Suite 206C Boulder, Colorado 80303 All rights reserved Printed in the United States of America The University Press of Colorado is a proud member of the Association of American University Presses. The University Press of Colorado is a cooperative publishing enterprise supported, in part, by Adams State University, Colorado State University, Fort Lewis College, Metropolitan State University of Denver, Regis University, University of Colorado, University of Northern Colorado, Utah State University, and Western State Colorado University. ∞ This paper meets the requirements of the ANSI/NISO Z39.48-1992 (Permanence of Paper). Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Obsidian reflections : symbolic dimensions of obsidian in Mesoamerica / edited by Marc N. Levine, David M. Carballo. pages cm ISBN 978-1-60732-300-6 (hardback) — ISBN 978-1-60732-301-3 (ebook) 1. Obsidian implements—Mexico. 2. Obsidian implements—Central America. 3. Indians of Mexico—Implements. 4. Indians of Central America—Implements. 5. Indians of Mexico— Antiquities. 6. Indians of Central America—Antiquities. I. Levine, Marc N., author, editor of compilation. II. Carballo, David M., author, editor of compilation. F1219.3.I4O26 2014 972.8’01—dc23 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Cover illustration: Obsidian eccentrics from La Laguna, photograph by David M. Carballo. For Ronnie (ML) and Jenny (DC) Contents List of Figures ix List of Tables xv Introduction Chapter 1 Reflections on Obsidian Studies in Mesoamerica: Past, Present, and Future 3 Marc N. Levine Section I. Ethnohistorical and Ethnographic Perspectives Chapter 2 Ethnohistorical Evidence for Obsidian’s Ritual and Symbolic Uses among the Postclassic Tarascans 45 Véronique Darras Chapter 3 The Symbolism of Obsidian in Postclassic Central Mexico 75 Alejandro Pastrana and Ivonne Athie Chapter 4 Machetes and Meaning: Some Notes on Cutting Tools in a Contemporary Mixtec Community 111 John Monaghan Section II. Symbolic Dimensions of Obsidian Production and Exchange Chapter 5 Symbolic and Ritual Dimensions of Exchange, Production, Use, and Deposition of Ancient Maya Obsidian Artifacts 127 Kazuo Aoyama Chapter 6 Obsidian Obsessed? Examining Patterns of Chipped-Stone Procurement at Late Postclassic Tututepec, Oaxaca 159 Marc N. Levine Section III. Interpreting Obsidian in Ritual Offerings and Use Chapter 7 Obsidian Symbolism in a Temple Offering from La Laguna, Tlaxcala 195 David M. Carballo Chapter 8 Ritual Use of Obsidian from Maya Caves in Belize: A Functional and Symbolic Analysis 223 W. James Stemp and Jaime J. Awe Chapter 9 Obsidian and Household Ritual at Xochitecatl-Cacaxtla 255 Mari Carmen Serra Puche, Jesús Carlos Lazcano Arce, and Mónica Blanco García Méndez Conclusion Chapter 10 Reflections on Reflections 279 William J. Parry List of Contributors 319 Index 321 viii contents Figures 1.1. Map of Mesoamerica, including major obsidian sources 22 2.1. Tarascan region of West Mexico 48 2.2. “Los sacrificadores” and the “Petamuti” 59 2.3. Tariácuri’s daughter uses a blade to slit the throat of a man from Curinguaro 61 2.4. Detail from Plate XXVI, RM, Ms.ç.IV.5. de El Escorial, 1541 62 2.5. Tariácuri distributes part of his god, Curicaueri 63 3.1. Representations of projectile points 76 3.2. Reproduction of an obsidian scepter associated with the Mexica culture and dating to the Late Postclassic period (1300–1521 CE) 77 3.3. Anthropomorphic sculpture of Ehecatl- Quetzalcóatl 81 3.4. Pottery fragments with Itzpapalotl imagery 82 3.5. Image of Tlatlauhqui Tezcatlipoca from the Codex Borgia 86 3.6. Reproduction of an obsidian mirror associated with the Mexica culture and dating to the Late Postclassic (1300–1521 CE) 89 3.7. Deities incorporating butterfly imagery in their portraits 103 3.8. Deities associated with the obsidian procurement and production process 104 4.1. Uictli/yata; man holding a yata in the Codex Nuttall; uictliaxoquen 115 4.2. Costa Chica machete purchased in the Sunday market in Santiago Nuyoo 115 4.3. Flint blades from selected codices 117 4.4. Future bridegroom in the Codex Osuna 122 4.5. Broken uictli from the Codex Borgia 122 4.6. Tlazolteotl, goddess of filth, holding broken tools from the Codex Laud 122 5.1. Map of the Maya area, showing the locations of Copán, Aguateca, and Ceibal 128 5.2. Scatter plot of the percentage of green obsidian versus the distance from the Principal Group of Copán, Early Classic period 131 5.3. Percentage of green obsidian among all obsidian artifacts through stratigraphic sequences of Structure 10L-26, Copán, Early Classic period 133 5.4. Map of Aguateca’s epicenter, showing the location of several structures and small concentrations of obsidian percussion flakes and blade manufacturing debris; Late Classic period 135 5.5. Use-wear pattern b and parallel striations on an obsidian prismatic blade proximal segment made from El Chayal obsidian, Late Classic period 137 5.6. Nearly complete prismatic blades made from El Chayal obsidian from the elite residence of Structure M8-8 at Aguateca, Late Classic period 139 5.7. Map of the Principal Group of Copán and adjacent areas, showing locations of workshop dumps and other lithic deposits, Classic period 142 5.8. A very large macroflake made from Ixtepeque obsidian from the Great Plaza of the Principal Group of Copán, Late Classic period 149 x FIGures 5.9. Obsidian notched prismatic blades from Cache 4 of Structure L8-5, Aguateca, Late Classic period 150 5.10. The thirteen obsidian prismatic blades associated with Burial 104 of Ceibal, dated to the Mamom phase (700–400 BCE) of the Middle Preclassic period 151 6.1. Oaxaca and Tututepec in relation to Postclassic obsidian sources 161 6.2. Plan map of Tututepec Residences A and C 163 6.3. Plan map of Tututepec Residence B 164 6.4. Obsidian blades and a polyhedral core fragment from Ucareo, Residence A 166 6.5. Tututepec Monument 6 174 6.6. Carved stone boulder at Tututepec, known by locals as “el sapo del dios de la lluvia” (toad of the rain god) 178 7.1. Location of La Laguna, selected central Mexican sites, and obsidian sources documented at the site 199 7.2. Central structures at La Laguna and profile cut of excavations on top of Structure 12L-1, showing location of offering (Feature 173) 200 7.3. Upper layer of offering showing vertical positioning of the complete zoomorphic eccentric 202 7.4. Plan illustration of offering 203 7.5. Obsidian bifaces from offering 204 7.6. Illustration of zoomorphic eccentric 1 and zoomorphic 2 207 7.7. Formative and Classic iconography of centipedes or other biting subterranean creatures 210 FIGures xi 7.8. Postclassic and Colonial iconography of centipedes or other biting subterranean creatures 211 8.1. Map of cave locations in the Belize and Roaring Creek Valleys of western Belize 225 8.2. Obsidian from Actun Uayazba Kab—green obsidian eccentric, blade segments, and flake 229 8.3. Slate obsidian blade monument and slate stingray spine monument in Stela Chamber, Actun Tunichil Mucnal 232 8.4. Examples of use-wear on blades from caves 237 8.5. Photomicrographs of use-wear on obsidian blades 239 8.6. Percentage of use-wear by category type based on IUZs for Actun Uayazba Kab and Gordon Cave no. 3 241 8.7. Map of light, penumbral, and dark zones in Actun Uayazba Kab 242 9.1. Map of research area in Tlaxcala, Mexico 256 9.2. Satellite image of Terraces IV and V, Xochitecatl-Cacaxtla 257 9.3. Plan map of Terraces IV and V, Xochitecatl- Cacaxtla 257 9.4. General plan map of residential area 258 9.5. Photo of altar found in sunken courtyard of residential area 259 9.6. Burial 4, Terrace V 260 9.7. Individual with dental modification and pyrite disc inlays 261 9.8. Fine obsidian lancets or needles made from prismatic blades 268 9.9. Obsidian punches (punzones) made from prismatic blades; bone implements 269 9.10. Fine obsidian lancets or needles; punches (punzones) made from prismatic blades 270 xii FIGures 9.11. Incense burner from Xochitecatl ceremonial center; incense burner fragments from Xochitecatl-Cacaxtla residence 271 9.12. Artist’s reconstruction of Xochitecatl- Cacaxtla residence, including areas reserved for domestic ritual 274 10.1. Dr. John Dee’s divination tools, including an Aztec obsidian mirror and a small crystal ball 280 10.2. Obsidian cup, probably Aztec 286 10.3. Obsidian pendant shaped like a human hand, Mexico, nineteenth century or earlier 291 10.4. Bifacial projectile points of gray obsidian 293 10.5. Aztec sacrificial knife, with a bifacial bipointed blade of flint (or chalcedony) and a carved wooden handle, covered with a mosaic of turquoise, malachite, and four colors of shell, Mexico, fifteenth or sixteenth century 293 10.6. Three bifacial bipointed knives of obsidian (two gray and one meca) 294 10.7. Aztec depiction of ritual bloodletting or autosacrifice 295 10.8. Two lancets and eighteen prismatic blades with fine retouch at their pointed tips, Early Classic period 297 10.9. Large (50 centimeters) bifacial human figurine of meca obsidian 298 10.10. Miniature eccentrics made from green obsidian blades with marginal retouch 299 FIGures xiii Tables 6.1. Frequency of chipped-stone material from Tututepec 165 6.2. Obsidian artifact frequencies from Tututepec residences 165 6.3. Chert artifact frequencies from Tututepec residences 167 6.4. Comparison of obsidian artifact frequencies from Postclassic commoner residences 168 6.5. Obsidian source frequencies from Tututepec residences 169 6.6.