Feasting and Performativity at Late Formative Etlatongo

Summary

This is an abstract from the "SAA 2019: General Sessions" session, at the 84th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

Previous research on feasting in antiquity has demonstrated the importance of surface appearance and vessel form to interpret the performative aspects of rituals such as feasts. As part of the hosts’ strategies, of particular importance are vessels that invoke exotic imagery and/or outside groups through iconography and or aspects of overall vessel design. Recent excavations at Etlatongo discovered a large cache of Yucuita phase (500-300 BCE) ceramics deposited following a feast; many vessels bear a strong resemblance to those produced at Monte Albán, an early urban center founded during the same period. The presence of goods that are distinctly similar to those from Monte Albán suggests a link between the hosts and urban center. This paper explores the significance of iconographic elements, with particular attention to their visibility and intended audience. Vessels were visually analyzed with particular attention paid to technique, angles of best visibility, and overall size of the vessel, complete design, and individual elements. This study contributes to ongoing discussions of iconography and leadership strategies in the Mixteca Alta at this time, and to considerations of the role played by objects in feasting and performing.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 84th Annual Meeting, Albuquerque, NM (2019)

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Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 26180