Mesoamerica

Throughout Mesoamerica, different areas provided distinct natural resources and benefits. In the general region there are major environmental contrasts between areas like the highlands and the lowlands (Wesp, Anth 531, September 6th, 2017). For example, the lowlands were abundant in animals and marine resources, but the highlands had the advantage of volcanic activity. Volcanoes provided rich soil, grinding stones, and obsidian, a volcanic glass which became Mesoamerica’s most coveted material for weapons. As cultures continued to develop and expand, trade routes were established to attain materials like jadeite and obsidian from resources dominated by other centers. With this way of life, both settlement and trade were greatly influenced by

Historically, archaeologists have been notorious for seeking out the material remains of the wealthy, learning only about the lives and burials of those whose belongings can be viewed as treasure. In describing Chalcatzingo, the Olmecs’ “most important” high-land site, authors Coe and Koontz highlight that the “Chalcatzingo elite received elaborate crypt burials, one being accompanied by a greenstone figure in the purest La Vesta style; jade earspools, pendants, and necklaces were also present” (Coe and Koontz, 2013:89-90). This distinction values the difference between the elite, who had access to expensive and coveted items, and the rest of society. Other ways the archaeological record can reveal social stratification include specialised crafting, existence of public architecture, and access to trade with other settlements (Wesp, Anth 531, September 13th, 2017). All of these factors and more require the presence of at least one leader to organise labour in communities and the creation of more societal niches people can fill. In conclusion, it is important to look at both the stratified access to wealth and elite burials and the variance in skills within a culture determine levels of