La explotación de recursos líticos en el entorno geológico del sitio prehispánico de Sihó (Yucatán) a través del análisis fisicoquímico de los metates de caliza

Abstract

Siho is an archaeological site located in the Northern Maya Lowlands, where a number of grinding tools have been documented, mostly metates made with local limestone that has petrological characteristics (physical and chemical) which may indicate a particular geological origin. The statistical treatment of data extracted by X-ray fluorescence allows us to discern limestone materials from different geological formations, based on the quantity of silicon (Si) and/or calcium (Ca) in the sample. This data shows a link between the limestone of the Sihó metates and the rocks from the geological formation known as Carrillo Puerto located in the Yucatan peninsula. Furthermore, the comparison by mean thin sections between geological and archaeological materials has been useful to characterise and identify lithic materials used to fabricate the metates. The complementarity between both archaeometrical techniques, together with ethnographic, historical and archaeological documentation, provide us with information that suggests an immediate exploitation of the limestone rocks used to make the metates and brings us closer to a better understanding of the quarrying strategies practiced by the ancient Mayans of Sihó.