Political economy in Late and Terminal Classic Southeastern Mesoamerica: Putting the El Coyote copper smelting workshop in its regional context

Abstract

AbstractThe Terminal Classic (ad 900–1050) was a time of great change in Southeastern Mesoamerica. In many zones, Late Classic large sites were abandoned at least in part, settlement patterns changed, and there were alterations in political economy. In this article, I examine one of the major changes, the development of copper smelting technology, at the site of El Coyote and place this development in the context of wider Southeastern Mesoamerica. In particular, I discuss the Middle Chamelecon–Cacaulapa area (MCC), where El Coyote is located; the Naco Valley, home to the major site of La Sierra; and the Middle Ulua–Jicatuyo drainage, where the site of Gualjoquito is found (Proyecto Santa Bárbara research zone). The three areas share some patterns but nonetheless have their own distinct trajectories of change, with El Coyote in the MCC standing out as the most unusual.