8.3.4. Quarry pit and associated workshop activities

The evidence of obsidian production activities on the south side of Maymeja at the Chivay source remains some of the strongest evidence of production in the region. The evidence from this sector of Maymeja demonstrate that obsidian production was intensified on this area of the source. While the Maymeja workshop is very small when compared on a global or even on a regional scale, the 2003 test unit Q02-2u3, that was 1x1m across and 72cm deep, produced approximately 750 kg of culturally derived flaked stone artifacts. It is difficult to estimate the area over which these depths and densities continue, but a 3x4m area at ~70 cm depth can be advanced as a conservative estimate. The 2003 survey showed that while obsidian reduction zones were numerous in the Maymeja area, none compared with this workshop site [A03-126] in terms of density or stratification. As will be discussed below, the evidence from this area of the source provided the most significant contributions in the form of: (1) temporal control, (2) evidence of intensified production, and (3) links to the pastoral economy.