Vestiges of a Prehispanic Oven to Melt Copper Found in Zacatecas

[Judi Lynn]

Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Vestiges of a Prehispanic Oven to Melt Copper Found in Zacatecas

MEXICO CITY.- The finding of vestiges of a Prehispanic oven used more than 800 years to melt copper was registered by archaeologist of the The National Institute of Anthropology and History(INAH) at El Teul Archaeological Zone, in Zacatecas, during exploration that will leave ready this site to be opened before 2012.

As part of this work, during the first field season was accomplish the excavation of 2 pyramids and a part of a ballgame court, as well as several human burials that reveal changes in funerary patterns of ancient dwellers.

Archaeologist Peter Jimenez, co director of El Teul Archaeological Project, informed this at a conference at “Jose Luis Martinez” Bookstore in Guadalajara, Jalisco, where he made a balance of the first excavation season at the site.

“Finding the rests of the oven to melt copper is very important because it is the earliest found in Mexico and was used during Early Post Classic period, between 900 and 1200 of the Common Age”, added the researcher at his lecture “Advances of the archaeological rescue at El Teul”.

He described the structure of the oven made out of stone and masonry that presents rests of ashes and carbonized maize, used as combustible. This material will allow getting a more precise dating.

More:
http://www.artdaily.com/index.asp?int_sec=2&int_new=39373