The routes of jade in Mesoamerica: the long-distance exchange and political power in Teotihuacan (150-750 d.C.)

• Grant number: 09/07990-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: September 01, 2009
• End date: November 30, 2012
• Field of knowledge: Humanities - Archeology
• Principal Investigator: Maria Beatriz Borba Florenzano
• Grantee: Leila Maria França
• Host Institution: Museu de Arqueologia e Etnologia (MAE). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 12/02493-1 - Material testimonies of jade exchange between Teotihuacan and the Maya: artifacts and mural paintings, BE.EP.PD

Abstract

The jade and greenstones were among the most important exotic raw materials in Teotihuacan and they played a major role in that society since they were used to make ornaments to the ruling elite as well as objects which represented state ideology and religion, from the origins of urban period (150 a.C.) to the last century of its existence, until 750 a.C. Despite its importance there are not any systematic studies about their sources, and the little set of available information comes from generic studies on some imported raw materials and lapidary workshops in the city. On the other hand, among the available studies about interactions and Teotihuacan's influence over Mesoamerica, we cannot find anyone which takes in account the theme of exchange or routes of jade and similar materials. Regarding this gap, the aim of this Project is investigating about the sources of the jade and greenstones artifacts found in Teotihuacan, placing them on the general contexts of the city´s foreign exchange. We also aim to compare obtaining data about exchange with the production of social and religious objects used in official rituals as a means to assess the impact of exchange over Teotihuacan's ideological maintenance. (AU)