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Skill and the question of blade crafting intensity at Classic Period Teotihuacan
through practical experience (Pelegrin 1990:118).
For this discussion, I distinguish two qualitatively different types of skill:
ties associated with the production of high quality ceremonial/wealth items
(Apel 2001, Clark 1986:44, Clark and Parry 1990; Rathje 1975:414, Sheets
1978:66). This type of craft production usually favors a high level of labor
invested per unit output (Hayden 1998:11); emphasis is placed on producing
an aesthetic item that transmits social information (Helms 1993, Inomata
2001:324, Torrence 1986:45). Consequently, artisanal skill is measured by the
production of utilitarian items. Here, lower levels of labor are invested per
product to make a practical item that may be more uniform and standardized
at higher levels of specialization (Hayden 1998:2; Schiffer and Skibo 1997).
at populations of items. One approach is to assess the proportion of errors
with specialization, and therefore industries with fewer mistakes…will be
more specialized than those [with more] mistakes or less command over the
productive process” (Costin 1991:40).
Figure 5. Continuum of Labor Intensity.
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continuum (Fig. 5). Minimal labor investment in the absence of economies
repetitive activities often associated with a standardized production process
forming the gestures related to their efforts because constant repetition of
these actions promotes greater competence. If economies of scale come into
play, then the range of activities performed by each worker is reduced lead