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Bradford Andrews
Labor intensity at Operation H was calculated according to the amount of
time needed to produce blades at Xochicalco. This estimate was derived
from several categories of artifacts, including core tops found on the work
(Flenniken and Hirth 2003; Hirth et al. 2003).
The estimate was based on a monthly production cycle, to account for
per month, or 420 craftsman workdays per year (Hirth and Andrews n.d.b).
Accordingly, the number of production locales strongly suggests that Op
eration H had two to three craftsmen operating simultaneously, although it
least, this evidence casts doubt on the assertion that the San Martin crafts
This study has used the same data set to reach a conclusion that runs
contrary to the previously proposed nature of production at the San Martin
workshop. That aside, I realize that numerous objections can be raised to
this exploratory analysis, including 1) its use of surface data, and 2) the tech
nological comparability of the assemblages.
Setting aside the obvious need for systematic subsurface samples of data,
I believe the issue of technological compatibility is essential to consider. For
tion techniques varied widely (Hirth and Andrews 2002). For example, core
platforms at Teotihuacan were single facet, whereas they were pecked and
ground at Xochicalco. Pecking and grinding produced tiny fracture cones
that facilitated easier crack initiation during blade removal. Since Teotihua
can platforms were single facet, requiring generally more force to press off a
of hinge terminations. Experimental research has shown that blade remov
als requiring more force can be more likely to hinge because, depending on
(Andrews 2003). 6 If so, then the hinge fracture data presented in this paper
would tend to suggest that the San Martin craftsmen were more skilled.
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