🤯 Did You Know (click to read)
Modern geochemical fingerprinting can match obsidian artifacts to specific volcanic outcrops with high accuracy.
Obsidian artifacts recovered at Tiwanaku have been traced through geochemical sourcing to distant volcanic deposits. Studies indicate procurement from sources more than 300 kilometers from the Altiplano core. This exchange occurred primarily between 500 and 1000 CE. Obsidian was prized for its sharp fracture properties and symbolic value. Its transport required organized caravan routes across mountainous terrain. Distribution patterns suggest centralized allocation rather than random trade. Elite contexts contain higher concentrations of imported glass. Long-distance procurement implies diplomatic or colonial ties. The material linked Tiwanaku to broader Andean exchange systems.
💥 Impact (click to read)
Resource acquisition beyond local territory indicates strategic expansion. Control over exotic materials enhanced elite differentiation. Trade corridors reinforced political alliances. Geochemical sourcing demonstrates administrative reach. Imported goods diversified economic assets. Long-distance logistics required planning and risk management. Material circulation strengthened systemic integration.
For craftspeople, obsidian offered sharper edges than local stone. Its sheen and cutting precision elevated toolmaking. Communities likely recognized its distant origin. The material embodied connection to unseen landscapes. Exchange journeys fostered mobility and narrative exchange. Obsidian fragments reveal ancient travel routes. Glass carried geography in its composition.
Source
Metropolitan Museum of Art Heilbrunn Timeline on Andean trade
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