Abstract
Settlement pattern surveys over a large portion of the Valley of Mexico by Sanders, Blanton, and Parsons have produced a sample of over 600 Aztec spindle whorls with good provenience data. This paper examines the distribution of both cotton and maguey whorls, and their variation from sub-region to sub-region within the Valley of Mexico. Particular attention is given to the maguey whorls. These clearly fall into three distinct stylistic groups, each of which appears to be restricted to a limited area within the Valley of Mexico. An attempt is made to explain this distribution in terms of the prehispanic Aztec market system.

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