Trade, production, and cultural integration at Cerro de Coamiles, Nayarit

Abstract

During the Early/Middle Postclassic (AD 900-1350), the Aztatlan Tradition spread throughout Western Mexico and grew to be one of the most influential groups in the region. The cultural core of this tradition was centered on the coastal plain of Nayarit with numerous major population centers taking part in expansive trade networks. One such major Aztatlán site is Coamiles, excavated from 2005 to 2010 by the Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historía (INAH). From these excavations, we here present the results of ceramic and obsidian analyses as well as discussions of site architecture. These results demonstrate the widespread importation of obsidian from the Jalisco highlands as well as simultaneous local production of lithic tools from more proximal sources. In contrast, ceramic analyses illustrate a ceramic industry that appears largely reliant upon local production with little, if any, ceramic trade. Finally, the architecture of the ceremonial center suggests an integration into broader cosmological belief systems that are still maintained today with modern indigenous populations. Overall, Coamiles was a paragon of Aztatlán culture. We can look to Coamiles and see similar attributes as we find throughout the entire coastal plain during the Postclassic. In this way, Coamiles is an ideal case study for understanding this prolific tradition.