Ancient Civilizations of the
Americas – Lecture 2
Archaeological
Terminology
Common Archaeological Terms used in Mesoamerican
Archaeology
1. Material Types – Lithics: lithics are tools made out
of stone, they may be produced by either chipping,
pecking, or grinding.
Common types of lithic materials used in the making
of chipped stone tools:
• Obsidian – volcanic glass - very sharp and
brittle. Often fashioned into prismatic blades by
specialists.
Prismatic blades
Material types: cont.
Basalt - A viscous black or grey lava, rich in iron.
Jade – a name applied to the gem form of either amphibole
(nephrite) or pyroxene (jadite). Both are silicates containing iron,
magnesium, and calcium. Jade was imported into Mesoamerica
from the south – Costa Rica.
Turquoise – a copper and aluminum phosphate mineral occurring
in copper ores. This was imported into Mesoamerica from the
north.
Serpentine – a magnesium silicate with water. It varies from
translucent to opaque and has a greasy or waxy luster. Occurs as a
form of marble
Material types: cont.
Cinnabar – an ore of mercury. The bright red color of this mineral
was favored by Mesoamericans, possibly due to its resemblance to
blood.
Hematite – an iron oxide form of iron, is black in crystalline form.
Polished and made into cubes and mirrors.
Pyrite – A sulphide iron ore – metallic in appearance and often
polished and used in mirrors.
From a tomb at La
Venta , Mexico
Material types: Shells – conch and spondylus
Tool types: stone
atlatl
Mano and
metate
Tool types: ceramics
terra cotta, comal, incensario, incision, resist painting
Mesoamerican Archaeological Chronology