Table of Contents

Part 1 The perspective and the region: an overview of Mesoamerican prehistory; the West Mexican metalworking zone; South American contacts in West Mexico; the research agenda. Part 2 Resources, metals and alloys: distribution of native metals and ore minerals in the metalworking zone; ore types used in West Mexican metallurgy; documentary evidence for ancient mining. Part 3 Period 1 of West Mexican metalworking - AD 600 to AD 1200/1300: the technological chronology; archaeological evidence of period 1 metallurgy; the metallurgical technology of period 1; lost-wax casting - bells; cold working - sumptuary and ritual objects; cold working - utilitarian objects; summary and observations. Part 4 Origins of period 1 West Mexican metallurgy: Ecuador and West Mexico; Colombia and Lower Central America; the introduction of the technology to West Mexico; the evidence from Ecuador; the reinterpretation. Part 5 The florescence of West Mexico metallurgy - AD 1200/1300 to the Spanish invasion: archaeological evidence for period 2 metallurgy; the metallurgical technology of period 2 - new materials and new designs; lost-wax casting - bells; cold and hot work - sumptuary items; cold work - tools and axe-monies; the focus of period 2 metallurgy. Part 6 Period 2 - origins and transformations: alloying; alloys and artifacts; mechanisms of introduction; the new technology - West Mexican alloys and smelting regimes; the West Mexican interpretation. Part 7 The dissemination of West Mexican metllurgy: Western Morelos - Cuexcomate and Capilco; Lamanai, Belize; the Huastec region - Vista Hermosa and Platanito; other sites and regions; discussion. Part 8 The sounds and colours of power: colour; sound; sound, metal and creation; the social context. Appendices: technical studies - data and methods; quantitative chemical analyses of artifacts in the RMG collection.