A fascinating new study has revealed important insights into the ancient economy of the Maya people. The research published in Latin American Antiquity shows that the ruling K’iche’ elite took a hands-off approach when it came to managing the procurement and trade of obsidian by people outside their region of central control. Through independent and diverse acquisition networks, this allowed local people to manage access to nearby obsidian sources, a glass-like rock used to make tools and weapons. Let’s take a look at this remarkable finding in more detail.
What is Obsidian? Obsidian is an igneous rock formed from cooled lava, typically black or dark gray, with a smooth, glossy surface. It can be found all over the world but is especially abundant in Central America, where it has been used for centuries by native peoples for tools and weapons. The properties of obsidian make it ideal for use as tools because it can be worked into very thin blades with sharp edges without needing to be heated or shaped with metal tools.
The Study The study examined how the Maya managed their obsidian resources over 500 years ago in Guatemala’s midwestern highlands. The researchers found that these areas had access to nearby obsidian sources, which local people managed through independent and diverse acquisition networks. This system resembled modern market-based economies because there were ample resources and local craftsmen who could shape them into whatever was needed.
The study also showed that despite being under the rule of a powerful elite group, these areas enjoyed far less oversight than many archeologists previously thought when procuring and trading goods like obsidian. This allowed them to develop sophisticated systems of production and trade that rivalled those seen today.
This fascinating new study provides important insights into the ancient economy of the Maya people over 500 years ago in Guatemala’s midwestern highlands. It reveals how they managed their resources without much interference from rulers and developed sophisticated systems of production and trade that rivalled those seen today. The findings provide an exciting glimpse into how economies functioned in times gone by — and may even offer valuable lessons for our times!
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Ancient Maya Economy Revealed in New Study
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A fascinating new study has revealed important insights into the ancient economy of the Maya people. The research published in Latin American Antiquity shows that the ruling K’iche’ elite took a hands-off approach when it came to managing the procurement and trade of obsidian by people outside their region of central control. Through independent and diverse acquisition networks, this allowed local people to manage access to nearby obsidian sources, a glass-like rock used to make tools and weapons. Let’s take a look at this remarkable finding in more detail.
What is Obsidian?
Obsidian is an igneous rock formed from cooled lava, typically black or dark gray, with a smooth, glossy surface. It can be found all over the world but is especially abundant in Central America, where it has been used for centuries by native peoples for tools and weapons. The properties of obsidian make it ideal for use as tools because it can be worked into very thin blades with sharp edges without needing to be heated or shaped with metal tools.
The Study
The study examined how the Maya managed their obsidian resources over 500 years ago in Guatemala’s midwestern highlands. The researchers found that these areas had access to nearby obsidian sources, which local people managed through independent and diverse acquisition networks. This system resembled modern market-based economies because there were ample resources and local craftsmen who could shape them into whatever was needed.
The study also showed that despite being under the rule of a powerful elite group, these areas enjoyed far less oversight than many archeologists previously thought when procuring and trading goods like obsidian. This allowed them to develop sophisticated systems of production and trade that rivalled those seen today.
This fascinating new study provides important insights into the ancient economy of the Maya people over 500 years ago in Guatemala’s midwestern highlands. It reveals how they managed their resources without much interference from rulers and developed sophisticated systems of production and trade that rivalled those seen today. The findings provide an exciting glimpse into how economies functioned in times gone by — and may even offer valuable lessons for our times!