The Precolumbian Dotted-Diamond-Grid Pattern: References and Techniques

This collection contains the abstracts of the papers presented in the session entitled "The Precolumbian Dotted-Diamond-Grid Pattern: References and Techniques" at the 86th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

Even degraded samples, ceramic impressions, and images of precolumbian textiles may illustrate patterning. The regularity of certain designs suggests that these were specific, named patterns that were shared and meaningful; their appearance on specific garments suggests that they had links to gender, affiliation, and/or status. One familiar pattern found throughout the Americas is a crosshatched lattice with simple motifs at the center of each interstitial space. Sometimes called the "dotted-diamond grid," the pattern has been interpreted variously as depicting plots of agricultural land, scutes on a tortoise shell, blossoms in a field, or the dented kernels on a ripe ear of corn. Possible variations of this pattern may include squares, zigzags, V shapes, or triangles. Technical proposals for the manufacture of these designs include weaving, beading, painting, batik, tie-dyeing, and felting with patterned bark beaters. This session considers the “dotted-diamond grid” pattern, its manufacture, and its meaning among different Indigenous American cultures, with the goal of pulling together a fuller, more thorough understanding of the design and to expand recognition of its variations.