Ancestors, Agency, and Formation Processes: Interpreting Problematical "Smash and Trash Deposits" at Ka’Kabish, Belize

Summary

Maya archaeologists commonly discover "smash-and-trash" deposits, collections consisting of large quantities of broken sherds, lithics, faunal materials, and other remains, in varying contexts on Maya sites. Interpretations of these deposits vary from simple trash or midden deposits, to remains of feasting, to termination and other rituals. These interpretations are often strongly influenced by the theoretical and analytical approaches taken by the excavators. At Ka’Kabish, Belize, a series of problematical "smash-and-trash" deposits, consisting primarily of sherds and reconstructible vessels, were encountered in Plaza D South. This paper will explore how the application of different analytical and theoretical approaches to these deposits can influence how they are interpreted, and attempt to provide insights into which approaches are most reasonable for analyzing and explaining these kinds of deposits.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 82nd Annual Meeting, Vancouver, BC (2017)

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Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 15307