Mobility and Pre-Columbian Censers

Summary

Mobility, as it relates to censers, can be discussed on both large and small scales; it includes the movement of iconographic concepts, the physical objects, and the material or organics burned inside the censer. Censers styles fluctuate across pre-Columbian time due to a wide variety of reasons, though the purpose remains the same, which is to burn incense. The singular function of censers makes it an exemplary artefact class for the discussion of mobility across geographical and cultural regions. Here, I draw upon multiple regions to show the continuity of certain design elements across the different cultural regions and time periods. This discussion draws particular attention to the occurrences of the spiked vessel style of censers and the periods of use as they have the strongest iconographical botanical connections. Spiked vessel comparative studies are not new to Mesoamerica and the Maya region; here I continue the discussion further into southern Central America. It is hoped that the macro scale discussion will provide further understanding to the nuances of Potosí Applique from Greater Nicoya.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

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

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Spatial Coverage

Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 19980