Obsidian Craft Production in Ancient Central Mexico: Archaeological Research at Xochicalco

When the Spanish conquistadors first encountered the great commercial markets of central Mexico they were amazed by the richness and the diversity of products, as well as the level of organization. Ruling elites nurtured and supervised these markets, which were based on a complex division of labor within society, including a diversity of highly skilled craft specialists.
The appearance of such craft specialists—who produced large quantities of goods for other households—represented a sig…