Luminescence Dating at the Postclassic Site of Gonzálo Hernández, Chiapas, Mexico

Summary

In the Soconusco region of Chiapas, Mexico, we are still struggling with refining the Postclassic ceramic chronology. At the site of Gonzálo Hernández, the evidence suggests that the principal occupation of the site was during the Late Postclassic period (ca. 1300-1520CE), but a small percentage of sherds date to earlier periods. In an effort to approach the local ceramic chronology from a new perspective, a small sample of sherds were dated using luminescence dating. The results have clarified certain issues—namely that many of the ceramics were produced in the Late Postclassic period. Curiously, however, some dates spilled over into the Colonial period, an unlikely scenario as no known historic materials (e.g., metal goods, glazed ceramics) were found at the site. In this paper, I discuss how the various dates generated by luminescence dating can be interpreted.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 81st Annual Meeting, Orlando, FL (2016)   •
• Recent Applications of Luminescence Dating in Archaeology

Keywords

Spatial Coverage