Ceramic Emulation: Empires and Eminent Polities Seen from Afar

Summary

A systematic evaluation of emulation of powerful capitals using ceramic comparisons requires consideration of (1) degrees of similarity, (2) legacy traditions, and (3) depositional contexts and sample sizes. This analysis uses ceramics from the Mesoamerican Gulf lowlands on the west side of the Lower Papaloapan River to compare with ceramics from Teotihuacan during the Early Classic Period and from the Aztec Triple Alliance during the Late Postclassic Period. Replication, imitation, and adaptation of ceramic traits are assessed for different levels of analysis and according to categories of vessel function. The Late Postclassic case provides a better-known imperial context, while Teotihuacan expansion has more diverse and debated characteristics. Both ceramics linked to wealth and status and those in use by the general population are important for a systematic analysis.

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This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 80th Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA (2015)   •
• The Aztecs and their World: Initerdisciplinary Contributions of Frances Berdan

Keywords

Spatial Coverage