Ritualized Shatter: Obsidian in a Ritual Context at La Milpa, Belize

Summary

During the 2014 and 2015 field seasons, the California State University, Los Angeles Sacred Landscapes Archaeological Project conducted an investigation of a collapsed chultun at the ancient Maya site of La Milpa. The collapse pit had a small grotto at the northern end and excavation uncovered a plaster and rubble cored platform enclosing the feature. The platform formalized the space and suggested that it had functioned as a sacred landmark. During the excavations, a fairly dense concentration of sherds was encountered along with four dozen obsidian prismatic blades. The recovery of the blades is not surprising in that obsidian blades have been reported from other sacred landmarks in the Maya area such as caves. What is unusual, however, is the extremely fragmented condition of the blades which suggests deliberate breakage. Analysis of fracture patterns and use-wear has been conducted to determine how the blades had been used and fragmented before being deposited in the hole. Obsidian blade fragments from this site have been sourced to two Guatemalan highland quarries.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 81st Annual Meeting, Orlando, FL (2016)   •
• Recent Advances in the Archaeology of the Three Rivers Region of the Central Maya Lowlands

Keywords

Spatial Coverage