San José Ixtapa: un sitio arqueológico dedicado a la producción de mercurio

Abstract

The treatment of cinnabar to produce mercury is an interesting case of prehispanic technology that has not been studied enough. The present work compares the ethnogaphic evidence of mercury production with the data provided by the study of the surface at San Jose lxtapa, using prospecting techniques. The relationship between the present day productive activities in the Sierra Gorda of Queretaro, and the distribution of anomalies and surface archaeological material permited the interpretation of this site as mercury production center and the identification of productive activity areas. The present article attempts to show the benefits of preliminary study using prospecting techniques and the value of the information provided by ethnographic studies.