The shell offerings inside the Pyramid of the Plumed Serpents in Xochicalco, Morelos

Abstract

THE AIM OF THIS STUDY WAS TO ANALYZE THE SHELL ASSEMBLAGE OF THE PYRAMID OF THE PLUMED SERPENTS IN XOCHICALCO, MORELOS. TWELVE SPECIES WERE IDENTIFIED, 9 FROM THE PANAMIC-PACIFIC PROVINCE AND THE REMAINING 3 FROM THE CARIBBEAN SEA. USING SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY (SEM), THE TYPOLOGY AND TRACES OF WORKING SHOWED TWO PATTERNS OF MANUFACTURE: 1) VARIABILITY AND WIDE DISPERSAL FROM THE AREAS OF PRODUCTION AND, CONTRASTING WITH THIS, 2) STANDARDIZATION OF MANUFACTURE AND CENTRALIZATION IN THOSE AREAS WHERE, PERHAPS IN LATTER STAGES, THE SHELL WORKSHOP WAS UNDER THE CONTROL OF ELITE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY.