Cloth Production and Economic Intensification in the Area Surrounding Chichen Itza

Archaeological evidence from Xuenkal, north of Chichén Itzá, reveals that inhabitants intensified cloth production during the Terminal Classic Period (A.D. 900–1000), likely in response to increased tribute demands from the dominant regional power. Analysis of spindle whorls suggests a rapid adaptation to economic pressures, with spinning and weaving—traditionally associated with women—reinforcing both material output for the state and its gender ideology. This study enhances understanding of Maya cloth production and Chichén Itzá's influence on surrounding sites during its peak political dominance.

Ardren, T., Manahan, T. K., Wesp, J. K., & Alonso, A. (2010). Cloth Production and Economic Intensification in the Area Surrounding Chichen Itza. Latin American Antiquity, 21(3), 274–289. https://doi.org/10.7183/1045-6635.21.3.274