Ancient Maya Pottery: Classification, Analysis, and Interpretation

311 Pages·2013·4.5 MB·English

by  James John Aimers

Ancient Maya Pottery
Maya Studies
University Press of Florida
Florida A&M University, Tallahassee
Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton
Florida Gulf Coast University, Ft. Myers
Florida International University, Miami
Florida State University, Tallahassee
New College of Florida, Sarasota
University of Central Florida, Orlando
University of Florida, Gainesville
University of North Florida, Jacksonville
University of South Florida, Tampa
University of West Florida, Pensacola
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Ancient Maya Pottery
Classification, Analysis, and Interpretation
Edited by James John Aimers
Foreword by Diane Z. Chase and Arlen F. Chase
University Press of Florida
Gainesville/Tallahassee/Tampa/Boca Raton
Pensacola/Orlando/Miami/Jacksonville/Ft. Myers/Sarasota
This publication is made possible in part with support from
The Research Foundation of the State University of New York.

Copyright 2013 by James John Aimers
All rights reserved
Printed in the United States of America. This book is printed on Glatfelter Natures Book,
a paper certified under the standards of the Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC). It is a
recycled stock that contains 30 percent post-consumer waste and is acid-free.

This book may be available in an electronic edition.

18 17 16 15 14 13 6 5 4 3 2 1

A record of cataloging-in-publication data is available from the Library of Congress.
ISBN 978-0-8130-4236-7

The University Press of Florida is the scholarly publishing agency for the State University
System of Florida, comprising Florida A&M University, Florida Atlantic University,
Florida Gulf Coast University, Florida International University, Florida State University,
New College of Florida, University of Central Florida, University of Florida, University
of North Florida, University of South Florida, and University of West Florida.

University Press of Florida
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Contents
List of Figures vii
List of Tables x
Foreword xi
Preface xiii
1. Introduction 1
James John Aimers
2. Type-Variety: What Works and What Doesn’t 11
Prudence M. Rice
3. Types and Traditions, Spheres and Systems: A Consideration of Analytic
Constructs and Concepts in the Classification and Interpretation of
Maya Ceramics 29
Cassandra R. Bill
4. Interpreting Form and Context: Ceramic Subcomplexes at Caracol,
Nohmul, and Santa Rita Corozal, Belize 46
Arlen F. Chase and Diane Z. Chase
5. Ceramic Resemblances, Trade, and Emulation: Changing Utilitarian
Pottery Traditions in the Maya Lowlands 74
Robert E. Fry
6. Type-Variety on Trial: Experiments in Classification and Meaning Using
Ceramic Assemblages from Lamanai, Belize 91
James John Aimers and Elizabeth Graham
7. Establishing the Cunil Ceramic Complex at Cahal Pech, Belize 107
Lauren A. Sullivan and Jaime J. Awe
8. Technological Style and Terminal Preclassic Orange Ceramics in the
Holmul Region, Guatemala 121
Michael G. Callaghan, Francisco Estrada-Belli, and Nina Neivens de Estrada
9. Acanmul, Becán, and the Xcocom Phenomenon through a Type-Variety
Looking Glass: Resolving Historical Enigmas through Hands-On
Typological Assessments 142
Joseph Ball and Jennifer Taschek
10. Looking for Times: How Type-Variety Analysis Helps Us “See” the Early
Postclassic in Northwestern Honduras 163
Patricia A. Urban, Edward M. Schortman, and Marne T. Ausec
11. Slips, Styles, and Trading Patterns: A Postclassic Perspective from
Central Petén, Guatemala 185
Leslie G. Cecil
12. Mayapán’s Chen Mul Modeled Effigy Censers: Iconography and
Archaeological Context 203
Susan Milbrath and Carlos Peraza Lope
13. Problems and Prospects in Maya Ceramic Classification, Analysis, and
Interpretation 229
James John Aimers
References 239
Contributors 281
Index 283
Figures
3.1. Sovedeso Negative-painted vessels and sherds from Copán 40
3.2. Polished black/brown pottery from Copán 41
3.3. Painted and incised jars from Copán 42
4.1. Plan of Nohmul Structure 20 showing location of recovered
vessels 53
4.2. Vessels associated with Nohmul Structure 20 55
4.3. Plan of Santa Rita Corozal Structure 81 showing location of recovered
vessels 56
4.4. Vessels associated with Santa Rita Corozal Structure 81 61
4.5. Plan of Caracol Structure A31 65
4.6. Vessels associated with Caracol Structure A31 66
4.7. Sample of Belize Red vessels recovered from Caracol 69
4.8. Pottery classified as “censer ware” from Santa Rita Corozal 71
5.1. Stacked set of contemporary Mexican bowls 77
5.2. Map of sites in southern Quintana Roo studied by the Uaymil Survey
Project 79
5.3. Two-dimensional MDS solution of stylistic resemblances of Late
Classic slipped bowls from Quintana Roo 82
5.4. Two-dimensional MDS solution of technological resemblances of Late
Classic slipped bowls from Quintana Roo 83
5.5. Two-dimensional MDS solution of stylistic resemblances of Late
Classic unslipped jars from Quintana Roo 84
5.6. Two-dimensional MDS solution of technological resemblances of Late
Classic unslipped jars from Quintana Roo 85
5.7. Local red slate ware annular-base basin from Chau Hiix 88
6.1. Pedestal-based jar and dish (“chalice”) from Lamanai 99
6.2. Pozo Unslipped system jar from Lamanai and Pozo Unslipped system
jar rim from Tipu 101
7.1. Cahal Pech site map 108
viii Figures
7.2. Cahal Pech Plaza B 109
7.3. North Wall profile, Column 8/2006 110
7.4. Baki Red-incised: Baki Variety 116
7.5. Zotz Zoned-incised: Zotz Variety 117
7.6. Zotz Zoned-incised: Zotz Variety 117
7.7. Kitam Incised: Kitam Variety 118
7.8. Sikiya Unslipped: Sikiya Variety 119
8.1. Location of the Holmul region and other Terminal Preclassic sites 127
8.2. Sierra Red composite bowl form 130
8.3. Sherds of Ixcanrio Orange-polychrome composite bowl forms 131
8.4. Aguila Orange composite bowl form 131
8.5. Boleto Black-on-orange composite bowl form 132
8.6. Actuncan Orange-polychrome composite bowl form 132
8.7. Bivariate plot of Sr and Ca-corrected Cr base-10 logged concentrations
showing compositional groups 137
8.8. Bivariate plot of uncorrected Ca and Sr base-10 logged concentrations
showing compositional groups 138
9.1. Areal map showing sites mentioned in text and other key centers 143
9.2. Plan view of Acanmul site core 144
9.3. Comparison of original and revised Becán, Acanmul, and Edzná
Classic-Postclassic ceramic phase sequences 148
9.4. Diagnostic “early Xcocom” or “Puuc” lance points 152
9.5. Select Acanmul (Pa’xil)–Becán (Xcocom a) ceramic identities 155
9.6. Select Acanmul (Pa’xil)–Becán (Xcocom a) ceramic homologies 157
10.1. Map of Northwestern Honduras showing areas and sites mentioned in
the text 164
10.2. Sample of lip form coding sheet 165
10.3. Sample of jar neck form coding sheet 166
10.4. Completed readout sheet 167
10.5. Graph comparing trends in paste composition, middle Chamelecon-
Cacaulapa rural area and El Coyote 178
11.1. Central Petén archaeological sites 186
11.2. Trapeche ceramic group sherd thin section demonstrating two slips and
SEM image of a double slip 191
11.3. Early Postclassic period pottery 192
11.4. Bivariate plots of (1) Cr and Th and (2) Sc and Nd base-10 logged
concentrations showing, in turn, separation of Trapeche and Fulano
and separation of Paxcamán ceramic group slips 194
Figures ix
11.5. Bivariate plots of Early Postclassic period Trapeche and Fulano ceramic
group pastes and slips 197
11.6. Bivariate plots of Late Postclassic period Paxcamán ceramic group
pastes and slips 198
12.1. Mayapán Chen Mul Modeled censer representing God N 204
12.2. Mayapán Hoal Modeled effigy censer 208
12.3. Step-eyed Maize God from Structure Q54, Mayapán 211
12.4. Skeletal deity from Structure Q54, Mayapán 212
12.5. Dresden Codex 26 [56], Opossum or Mam wearing an oyohualli on a
braided breastplate 218
12.6. Madrid Codex 74, Step-eyed Maize Gods 221
12.7. Location of effigy censers and other figures in Cache 33, Lot C72 in
Structure Q81 222