The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #107257   Message #2506473
Posted By: Q (Frank Staplin)
02-Dec-08 - 09:58 PM
Thread Name: BS: How old is civilization?
Subject: RE: BS: How old is civilization?
Many years ago, i had a U. of Texas professor in Anthropology who was studying a group of Indian traders. Each year they worked their way back and forth from Oregon-Washington area to the Texas Gulf Coast- wintering along the Gulf. They would trade obsidian, etc. from Oregon south, and shells, etc, north, dealing in all sorts of stuff on the way.
I should look for that professor's publication; it should be interesting.

There was quite a bit of trade between tha Valley of Mexico at the time of the Aztecs with New Mexico-Arizona pueblo Indians. Much of the turquoise used in the Valley of Mexico came from New Mexico-Arizona mines, much from near Santa Fe. Bright Macaw feathers, shells, etc. were brought north. Just how the trade was carried out is poorly known.

These were two trade routes that covered long distances. There were probably others, but I haven't read the recent research (or very much of the old for that matter).