An Analysis of Ceramic Function from the Sacred Landscape Archaeological Project, La Milpa, Belize

Summary

In 2014 and 2015, the California State University, Los Angeles Sacred Landscape Archaeological Project carried out investigations of a collapsed chultun at the site of La Milpa in northern Belize. Excavation revealed a heavy concentration of ceramic and artifacts immediately surrounding the collapse with concentrations dropping precipitously only a few meters from the complex. This report analyzes the ceramic sherds recovered in excavation. The ceramics were sorted into six categories: unslipped, unslipped striated, Tinaja Red, monochrome slipped, fine paste & special, and unidentifiable. While the categories were supposedly defined based on surface finish, the sorting process actually created form categories as well with the first four categories being limited mostly to jars and a small number of bowls. Functional data was also recorded with evidence of interior burning noted for all categories. Interior burning was concentrated in the unslipped pottery, especially the unslipped striated. The implications for site function will be discussed.

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