3 ms·
At some point we have to invoke the principle of parsimony. Europe did not have a tradition of obsidian mirrors in the late middle ages/early modern, much less
by AlotOfReading 5y ago
At some point we have to invoke the principle of parsimony. Europe did not have a tradition of obsidian mirrors in the late middle ages/early modern, much less ones carved in mesoamerican styles.
Yes, it's not impossible that it could have been produced in Europe, but it's far more likely that it was produced like the numerous other similar mirrors dated before contact and documented as produced by American artisans in early writings. This is all the more likely given the known supply chain for such objects, specialists in Aztec mirror production are specifically known to have used material from the two sources identified, and that Spaniards documented shipping such mirrors back to Europe as gifts.