The evolutionary analysis of human behaviour is a broad arena of social science research
encompassing anthropological archaeology. Despite its relevance and success in building …

Why do people engage in seemingly wasteful behaviors and invest in extravagant material
displays? Since its introduction into anthropological archaeology two decades ago, costly …

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 …

Of the many items that were traded throughout the Postclassic (AD 850/900–1350) Aztatlan
network, obsidian was perhaps the most prevalent. In this study, large assemblages of …

Costly signaling theory indicates that highly visible acts of public generosity and display,
which exact costs not easily recouped, can provide social benefits to those engaged in such …

Islamic material culture is often either discussed in terms of its typology or its technological
characteristics, as defined by scientific analysis, sometimes leading to its provenance. Here …

Caribbean sugar mills were powered by water, animals, wind, or steam, yet the evidence
indicates major differences between islands in terms of which mill type predominated. We …

From the beginning of our era, the multi-ethnic capital of the central plateau, Teotihuacan,
served as a great religious center and a hub for artisanal production and consumption. By …

Background Centered primarily on the coastal plain of Nayarit, Jalisco and Sinaloa (fig. 1),
the Aztatlán Tradition reached its peak during the Early and Middle Postclassic Periods (AD …

Archaeologists use obsidian, XRF-sourced to its geologic source, to trace movements of
people and exchange relationships. This thesis applies current theories of territoriality …