essay

The metallurgy of Arizona and New Mexico

Excavations at Snaketown, Harold S. Gladwin, Emil W. Haury, E. B. Sayles, Nora Gladwin (25) • Published In 1965 • Pages: 276-277

By: Root, William C..

Abstract
It has generally been supposed that metal objects found in the Southwest were derived from either the Lake Sperior region to the northeast, or Mexico to the south. But the absence of impurities frequently found in copper from those regions, and the presence of object made from ores frequently found in the Southwest, of similar composition to the copper objects themselves, leads one to the conclusion that the metal was prepared and made into bells, etc, by the natives of Arizona, New Mexico, and Chihuahua from ore found close at hand (p.276). Examination of those objects used in this study, seem to indicate that they were made by a process of casting, probaably by the 'cireperdu' process. There are no indications of plating, gilding, soldering, or the other more complex processes that were in use in the Valley of Mexico and elsewhere (p. 277).
Subjects
Laboratory analysis of materials other than dating methods in archaeology
Mineral resources
Metallurgy
Smiths and their crafts
tradition
Hohokam
HRAF PubDate
2010
Region
North America
Sub Region
Southwest and Basin
Document Type
essay
Evaluation
Creator Type
Archaeologist
Document Rating
5: Excellent Primary Data
Analyst
John Beierle; 2009
Field Date
no date
Coverage Date
not specified
Coverage Place
Arizona and New Mexico, United States; Chihuahua, Mexico
Notes
W. C. Root
LCCN
65023304
LCSH
Hohokam culture
Excavations (Archaeology)--Arizona--Snaketown
Snaketown Site (Ariz.)