Ancient Obsidian Procurement and Production in the Peten Campechano: Uxul and Calakmul During the Early Classic to Terminal Classic Periods

Ancient Maya cities Uxul and Calakmul, located in southern Campeche, Mexico, exhibited distinct obsidian procurement patterns during the Early to Terminal Classic periods. Analysis of obsidian artifacts reveals that Uxul maintained significant trade connections with Teotihuacan directly or indirectly, suggesting economic independence from Calakmul's dominant state during the Early Classic. This independence waned by the eighth century, coinciding with Uxul's decline and eventual abandonment, long before Calakmul's final collapse after A.D. 900. The study leverages hieroglyphic texts and artifact analysis to reconstruct these trade dynamics, offering new insights into the political and economic relationships between these Maya polities.

Braswell, G. E. (2013). Ancient Obsidian Procurement and Production in the Peten Campechano: Uxul and Calakmul During the Early Classic to Terminal Classic Periods. INDIANA, Vol. 30 (2013). https://doi.org/10.18441/IND.V30I0.149-171