Levine, Marc N., editorCarballo, David M., editorUniversity Press of Colorado, publisher2007-01-032007-01-032014http://hdl.handle.net/10217/87534Includes bibliographical references and index.Departing from the political economy perspective taken by the vast majority of volumes devoted to Mesoamerican obsidian, Obsidian Reflections is an examination of obsidian's sociocultural dimensions--particularly in regard to Mesoamerican world view, religion, and belief systems. Exploring the materiality rather than only the functionality of this volcanic glass, this book considers the interplay between people, obsidian, and meaning and how these relationships shaped patterns of procurement, exchange, and use. An international group of scholars, hailing from Belize, France, Japan, Mexico, and the United States provide a variety of case studies from Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, and Honduras. The authors draw on archaeological, iconographic, ethnographic, and ethnohistoric data to examine obsidian as a touchstone for cultural meaning, including references to sacrificial precepts, powerful deities, landscape, warfare, social relations, and fertility. In addition, Obsidian Reflections underscores the necessity of understanding obsidian from within its cultural context--from the perspective of the indigenous people of Mesoamerica. It will be of great interest to Mesomaericanists as well as students and scholars of lithic studies and material culture.--Provided by publisher.Reflections on obsidian studies in Mesoamerica: past, present, and future / Marc N. Levine -- Ethnohistorical evidence for obsidian's ritual and symbolic uses among the postclassic Tarascans / Veronique Darras -- The symbolism of obsidian in postclassic central Mexico / Alejandro Pastrana and Ivonne Athie -- Machetes and meaning: some notes on cutting tools in a contemporary Mixtec community / John Monaghan -- Symbolic and ritual dimensions of exchange, production, use, and deposition of ancient Maya obsidian artifacts / Kazuo Aoyama -- Obsidian obsessed?: examining patterns of chipped-stone procurement at late postclassic Tututepec, Oaxaca / Marc N. Levine -- Obsidian symbolism in a temple offering from La Laguna, Tlaxcala / David M. Carballo -- Ritual use of obsidian from Maya caves in Belize: a functional and symbolic analysis / W. James Stemp and Jaime Awe -- Obsidian and ritual in Xochitecatl-Cacaxtla / Mari Carmen Serra Puche, Jesus Carlos Lazcano Arce, and Monica Blanco Garcia Mendez -- Reflections on reflections / William J. Parry.born digitalbooksengCopyright and other restrictions may apply. User is responsible for compliance with all applicable laws. For information about copyright law, please see https://libguides.colostate.edu/copyright.All rights reserved. User is responsible for compliance. Please contact University Press of Colorado at https://upcolorado.com/our-books/rights-and-permissions for use information.Indians of Central America -- AntiquitiesIndians of Mexico -- AntiquitiesIndians of Central America -- ImplementsIndians of Mexico -- ImplementsObsidian implements -- Central AmericaObsidian implements -- MexicoTextAccess is limited to the Adams State University, Colorado State University, Colorado State University Pueblo, Community College of Denver, Fort Lewis College, Metropolitan State University Denver, Regis University, University of Alaska Fairbanks, University of Colorado Boulder, University of Colorado Colorado Springs, University of Colorado Denver, University of Denver, University of Northern Colorado, University of Wyoming, Utah State University and Western Colorado University communities only.