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Immigration, Assimilation, and Status in the Ancient City of Teotihuacan: Stable Isotopic Evidence from Tlajinga 33

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Christine D. White ,
Rebecca Storey ,
Fred J. Longstaffe  and
Michael W. Spence
Christine D. White
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology, University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond Street, Suite 2, London, ON N6A 5C2, Canada
Rebecca Storey
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology, University of Houston, 233 McElhinney, Houston, TX 77204-5020
Fred J. Longstaffe
Affiliation:
Department of Earth Sciences, University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 5C2, Canada
Michael W. Spence
Affiliation:
Department of Earth Sciences, University of Western Ontario. Biology and Geological Sciences Building, London, ON N6A 5B7, Canada
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Abstract

Stable carbon isotope ratios in bone collagen and oxygen isotope ratios in bone and enamel phosphate from 25 individuals from the residential compound of Tlajinga 33 were used to examine the possibility that the inhabitants, who were craft producers, may have accepted immigrants to maintain either their ability to reproduce themselves as a social group or their level of economic productivity. Bone δ18O and δ13C values provide a long-term picture of geographic identity and diet, and enamel δ18O values provide a snapshot of geographic location during particular tooth development. A considerable proportion (29 percent) of the Tlajinga 33 inhabitants grew up elsewhere, but the majority of these immigrants had dwelt in Teotihuacan for many years before their death. Neither geographical relocation nor dietary differences are significantly associated with gender. The social position of foreigners appears to have been generally high. For example, the occupants of Tomb 50 appear to have come from elsewhere, possibly West Mexico, but foreigners were also found in lower status contexts such as middens. The stable isotope ratios reflecting long-term dwelling at Teotihuacan suggest that social status was achieved, which supports current archaeological evidence. Furthermore, the lack of dietary differences between immigrants and native Teotihuacanos may also imply political and/or ethnic assimilation.

Las proporciones de isótopos estables de carbono en colágeno de hueso y las proporciones de isótopos de oxígeno en fosfato de hueso y de esmalte de 25 individuos del conjunto residencial de Tlajinga 33 fueron utilizados para examinar la posibilidad de que los habitantes pudieran haber aceptado inmigrantes en su unidad social para mantener ya sea su viabilidad como grupo social o su nivel de productividad económica. Los valores δ18O y δ13C de hueso proveen un cuadro de la identidad geográfica y de la dieta, y los valores δ18O de esmalte proveen una visión de la ubicación geográfica durante el período de un desarrollo dental particular. Una proporción notable (29 por ciento) de los habitantes crecieron en otros lugares, pero la mayoría de esos inmigrantes habían vivido en Teotihuacan por muchos años antes de su muerte. Ni la reubicación geográfica ni las diferencias en sus dietas están asociadas con el género. La posición social de los extranjeros parece haber sido generalmente elevada, pero también fueron encontrados extranjeros en contextos de posición social baja. Las proporciones de isótopos estables que reflejan occupaciones por largo tiempo en Teotihuacan sugieren que la posición social fue conseguida, lo que apoya a la evidencia arqueológica.

Type
Articles
Information
Latin American Antiquity , Volume 15 , Issue 2 , June 2004 , pp. 176 - 198
Copyright
Copyright © 2004 by the Society for American Archaeology.

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