Ceramic Evidence of Normal and Anomalous Diffusion from Mesoamerica into Northwest Nicaragua

Summary

The ceramic record of Pacific Nicaragua can be interpreted as showing evidence of migration in the form of both normal and anomalous diffusion. Normal diffusion is seen in the Department of Chinandega through the ceramics of the early facet of the Late Preclassic Cosigüina complex, which derive from the Providencia Sphere. This ceramic sphere originates from the southern highlands of Guatemala and western El Salvador and now extends at least to northwest Nicaragua. The evidence of superdiffusion lies with a type known as Delirio Red-on-white, which is found at scattered sites in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua. We argue that its patchy and discontinuous distribution is evidence for superdiffusion because, as we show through design analysis and comparison of forms and pastes, Delirio is related to Coyotlatelcto types from Late Classic Central Mexico. We suggest that Delirio and associated types may serve as a marker for the historically attested Chorotega migrations to Nicaragua, Chiapas, and nearby areas.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 83rd Annual Meeting, Washington, DC (2018)

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Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 21510